Fate of beached whales to be decided
2009-05-30 16:31
Johannesburg - Scientists will make a decision later on Saturday on whether or not to euthanise any remaining stranded whales on Kommetjie beach, the NSRI said.
National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Labinon said "all efforts" are being made to move the 55 beached Pilot whales back into the sea.
However they would have to make the decision on Saturday whether to euthanise those that cannot be moved.
"We are trying to make every effort to save them or to move them to Simon's Town naval base," said Lambinon.
Should the whales be taken to the naval base, they will be put on board a naval vessel and taken out to sea.
Lambinon could not say what time a decision to euthanise the whales will be made.
The NSRI earlier appealed to members of the public who want to help put the 55 beached whales back at sea, to rather stay away.
"The roads to the beach are blocked because of all the public support," said Lambinon.
"The best help people could be at the moment is to stay away."
Lambinon said six front-end loaders from the City of Cape Town are busy helping the Pilot whales back into the water at Kommetjie beach. The whales are on average 3 metre in length.
"One of the whales had died, but the rest are all alive."
Volunteers had helped some of the whales, which started beaching themselves at around 07:30 on Saturday morning, back into the shallow waters by early afternoon.
- SAPA