Rescued whales well enough for move
By Sara Lin
Advertiser Staff Writer
Two melon-headed whales that were rescued Tuesday off Hau'ula Beach Park had stabilized enough yesterday to be moved to an enclosed portion of a lagoon at the Marine Mammal Research rehabilitation facility at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kane'ohe.
USMC
"They are eating much better, though they still need a little bit of encouragement," said Marlee Breese of the University of Hawai'i Marine Mammal Research program. At their noon feeding yesterday, each whale ate three pounds of squid, and they ate more readily than they had in the previous feed, Breese said.
One of two whales rescued off Hau'ula Beach is moved from a holding tank and into an enclosed lagoon area at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
The whales' swimming pattern means they're swimming on their own, rolling over to breathe, looking comfortable, officials said.
Breese said that at least one or both whales were sick or compromised in some way when they were found in Hau'ula.
"Every day that they're still going is a good sign ... based on how these things usually resolve, which is, all too often they die," she said.
Veterinarians have yet to pinpoint what caused the whales to come so close to shore on Tuesday. Little is known about these deep-water animals, which grow to about eight feet long. One of the rescued whales weighs 360 pounds, the other 385 pounds.
Since the whales' rescue, volunteer veterinarians and biologists have been watching them constantly. More blood tests and blood cultures were taken yesterday. The results of the blood cultures will not be available for several days.
"We're crossing our fingers; one might say we're cautiously optimistic," Breese said. But, she added, "We always need to keep in mind there was a reason why they were on the beach."
