TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four pygmy killer whales were rescued after being found stranded Tuesday afternoon on a beach below Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei City, per CNA.
All four were initially assessed to be in stable condition. However, due to heavy rain and the risks associated with nighttime operations, rescuers decided to transport them to the Badouzi Conservation Center in Keelung for observation before releasing them back into the wild.
The Coast Guard received a report of the stranding at 1 p.m. and dispatched a 30-person rescue team. The team included personnel from the Ocean Conservation Administration, New Taipei City Animal Protection Office, and the Taiwan Cetacean Society.
Rescuers continuously doused the whales with seawater to keep them hydrated and protect them from the sun. Personnel also righted the animals and ensured their blowholes remained unobstructed and monitories vital signs.
Each measured approximately 2.2 meters in length. They were also found to have bite wounds consistent with attacks by cookiecutter sharks, along with barnacle infestations and whale lice, per CTS.
Taiwan Cetacean Society Secretary-General Tseng Cheng-tsung (曾鉦琮) said barnacles and whale lice typically cannot attach to fast-swimming animals. “Three out of these four pygmy killer whales had whale lice and barnacles on them, indicating that their physical condition was likely poor,” he said.
Following an initial veterinary assessment, the four injured juvenile whales were transported for overnight care. Their condition will be monitored before they are returned to the ocean by boat.
