Stranded whale
gets a tow out

Biologists hope it
has rejoined its pod

By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

Marine biologists are hoping today that a pilot whale which stranded itself off the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe has rejoined a pod that normally swims off the Windward Oahu coast.

The whale was towed 3 miles offshore after it beached itself yesterday. Sea Life Park and U.S. Marine officials helped with the rescue effort. Biologists monitored the whale for about 30 minutes after it was released.

The whale, heading toward Kahuku, came up to blow and was swimming somewhat normally, said John Naughton, Pacific Islands environmental coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service.

As of this morning, there were no reports of the whale stranding again. "If we don't see the animal, it's a pretty good indication that it made it," Naughton said.

Officials were unable to determine what caused the whale to beach itself.

Only 25 percent of animals who strand survive when they are released at sea, he said. "There's obviously something wrong when they strand."

Oh Oahu, strandings are rare, occurring perhaps once every three years, Naughton said. They usually are humpback calves. Although pilot whales live in Hawaiian waters, they can dive to deep depths, making it rare to see them close to shore.

If a whale should strand itself on the reef or the beach, its injuries could attract large sharks. People are advised to stay out of the water for at least a half-mile on either side and to report the animal to marine officials at 973-2935 ext. 211.