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Newfoundland and Labrador Strandings
Long-finned pilot whale rescued by Lewisporte community volunteers
Often and for unknown reasons whales and sea turtles strand themselves on the beaches of the Newfoundland and Labrador coastline. Assistance is provided to concerned citizens in getting the animals back to deeper water. Occasionally rare types of whales are reported stranded such as the Sowerby's beaked whale.
The Whale Release and Stranding group will arrive onsite with special equipment to release the stranded whale or sea turtle as quickly as possible. Fishermen should call toll-free 1-888-895-3003 for assistance.
Fishermen regularly report sightings of different types of whales and sea turtle behaviour to the Whale Release and Stranding group, such as the Northern Bottlenose whales in the Davis Strait, and a solitary beluga visiting communities and pods of sperm whales off the Funk Islands.
Close up of the long-finned pilot whale rescue above
This right whale, one of the endangered 200-300 remaining in the Western North Atlantic, washed ashore in St. Theresas' on the West Coast of Newfoundland in August 2001.
The animal above was identified by DNA analysis at Memorial University of Newfoundland. An autopsy by the Whale Release and Strandings group showed the skeletal remains were severely damaged, which may be consistent with a ship strike. Many right whales die from ship strikes, and there is great concern for this population as it is concentrated in heavily congested shipping lanes on the East Coast of the U.S and the Bay of Fundy (see Newfoundland map).
Sowerby's beaked whale stranded in a shallow Newfoundland cove
When an entrapped or stranded whale or turtle dies, an autopsy is usually performed by the Whale Release and Stranding group. Samples are collected for distribution to interested researchers and institutes.
Wayne Ledwell, Whale Release and Stranding group, and Dr. Jon Lien, Memorial University of Newfoundland whale research group, perform a whale gross autopsy. The skeleton is being prepared for museum display.
Web Site Developer Susan Guerrero
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