Sydney Whale Calf Put Down
On Friday 22 August the whale calf that was separated from its mother was put down by the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. The calf was starving to death and they felt that they had no choice, as there is no contingency for coping with a lost whale calf. Earlier in the week they had tried leading it out to sea in the remote hope of finding its mother, or of it being adopted by a lactating female in another pod of whales. Sadly that didn’t happen and it swam back into Pittwater.
The calf was given six lethal injections and has been taken to Taronga Zoo for an autopsy. Representatives from the RSPCA and the Organisation for Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia were apparently satisfied that it was done as humanely as possible.
The orphan had been called Colin, although that had to be changed to Collette when it turned out he was a female.
The body of an adult whale has been found on the south coast of New South Wales and there is speculation that it could be that of the mother. DNA tests will be undertaken to see if that is the case.
You can read more on the Sydney Morning Herald’s website.
Tags: Wildlife