Posted on: Wednesday, August 1, 2001
Bystanders push whales back to sea
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
KIHEI, Maui — A small whale and her calf were returned to the sea yesterday morning after bystanders teamed up to rescue the pair from the shore at Kama'ole Beach Park II.
"It was wonderful,'' said Linda Bresnahan, a visitor from Louisville, Ky., who took part in the 6:45 a.m. rescue, the third stranding by a marine mammal on South Maui beaches in three months.
Greg Monk, a diver and boat captain who lives nearby, was having his morning cup of coffee when he heard that two dolphins were stranded on the beach across the street.
When he arrived, he saw what looked like a pair of pygmy sperm whales, the mom about 6 to 7 feet long and weighing 300 pounds and the baby much smaller at 30 to 40 pounds.
Monk said that since the animals appeared healthy, he decided to try to push them back into the ocean with the help of others who had gathered at the scene.
The group was able to maneuver them in the water a couple times, but each time the whales turned around and beached themselves again. On the third try, the pair took off, swimming vigorously in the direction of Molokini.
National Marine Fisheries Service officials say stranded marine mammals should not be handled since they may carry disease or have the potential to injure. The number to call for help is (800) 853-1964.
Monk said it was his impression that the mother had followed her newborn into shore after it had gotten into trouble.
"These were not sick animals. I felt their heartbeats — they were strong. There were no foul odors or lacerations,'' he said.
The two whales have not been formally identified by marine officials.
Other recent marine mammal strandings on Maui include an ailing rough-toothed dolphin that washed ashore July 20 on Ma'alaea Beach. Following a rescue attempt, the dolphin died. On April 30, a dwarf sperm whale stranded on Kama'ole Beach Park I and died the next day after spending the night at the Maui Ocean Center.
