On Wednesday, August 15th, a young humpback whale was found washed ashore on the beach of Waldport, Oregon. While volunteers performed constant efforts to keep the whale alive, hope was focused on higher tides to wash him back into the ocean. After several failed attempts, however, a decision needed to be made.
Being stranded comes with a multitude of issues for the whales as their bodies are built for the life in water. On land their weight inflicts major pressure on their tissue, resulting in deterioration of organs and a collapsing circular system. Exposure to the sun leads to blistering skin and hypothermia, ending in a slow and painful death.
On the other hand, attempts to tow the whale back into the water often lead to considerable injuries and even paralization, leaving the whale in yet another fight against death out in the ocean.
Taking the situation into consideration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ultimately made the decision to have the young humpback whale euthanized. By that time the organs had likely suffered from irreparable damage and a fast escape back into the ocean was not in sight. After putting the animal to sleep with sedatives, potassium chloride was delivered by the veterinarian to stop the heart.
In a necropsy the reasons for the stranding shall be determined, before the young humpback whale will be buried on the beach close to the stranding site.
Since most animals are close to dying or already dead by the time they are washed ashore, euthanization is only rarely performed. The proper reaction to a stranding depends on many factors and needs to be decided for each individual situation.
For more information, read https://www.dailyastorian.com/news/local/whale-euthanasia-a-rare-decision/article_c98bee4a-c052-11e9-a833-b7014205c16c.html
コメント