Who saved the whale in the Khabarovsk region and whether they saved it at all. The story of a baby bowhead whale stuck in shallow water ends with rescue. Was the whale saved?
The Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Natural Resources have their own official version of events. Blogger Ruslan Usachev, who was on the island, has a different one.
Bookmarks
Photo by Ruslan Usachev
On the morning of August 10, a whale was discovered at the mouth of the river flowing from Lake Bolshoi on Bolshoi Shantar Island in the Khabarovsk Territory. This was reported by representatives of the directorate of parks and reserves “Zapovednoe Priamurye”.
Presumably, the whale was driven into the mouth by a pod of killer whales. Due to the fact that the animal hit the bottom with its tail, it received an injury, but not life-threatening. Experts claimed that the whale was in serious danger: it could neither turn around nor go out into the lake because it was in too narrow a place. Scientists believed that the tide would help him.
Later, reports about the rescue operation began to appear in the media. The regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations said that the whale tried to get out on its own, but it did not work. The rescue operation was personally supervised by the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sergei Donskoy.
On the evening of the same day, the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sergei Donskoy, published a message that the whale had freed itself.
The director of the Shantar Islands National Park, Vladimir Andronov, just called - the whale left the mouth of the river into the sea with the tide, colleagues escorted him to the edge. Will keep watching! Keith was saved!
Sergey Donskoy
Head of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources
Blogger Ruslan Usachev, who was on the island with the Mamont Cup 2017 expedition, stated in the video that the official version of the whale rescue differs from what actually happened.
Almost this entire story of saving the whale is a lie. I can say this with confidence because I was there. The whale ran aground literally in front of our camp. This morning I brushed my teeth while looking at the whale.
Ruslan Usachev
Possible options for saving the whale. Official version
Experts discussed options for saving the whale if the tide does not help it, and considered different options.
We are exploring the option of using mechanisms to remove the whale; we will move it and lift it with straps. Colleagues are considering all options, such an order has been given. But the most humane thing is to remove the whale during the night tide. We hope that he will be able to turn around, or back out.
Nikolay Gudkov
Press Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources
Photo by Ruslan Usachev
Usachev's version
According to Usachev, there were no rescuers or scientists specializing in marine animals on the island. There were 24 expedition members, scientists studying local swamps, and national park employees.
As he told TJ, the national park employees had the option of somehow pushing the whale with a boat. It is unknown whether they and management discussed other options to save the animal. The basic plan was to wait for the tide. In the video, he said that specialists had no way to get to the island.
Think for yourself how they could have ended up there. A whale ran aground in a random river on a random island. Should a specialist be stationed on each of the islands in Russia? We don't have that many specialists in marine animals. They couldn’t fly there - the weather was bad. Arrive by boat? We sailed there for six hours because there was a force three storm.
Ruslan Usachev
Water and fire pumps for the whale. Official version
The press service of the main department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Khabarovsk Territory told Interfax that employees of the national park are pouring water on the whale using motor pumps.
Usachev's version
Usachev said that there were no pumps on the island. According to him, the national park staff did not water the whale for a long time and did not allow expedition members to see it. At the request of Moscow scientists, whom one of the travelers contacted, they were also not allowed to take whale skin samples.
As a result, they watered it twice: the first time, when the expedition members “made a noise,” and the second time at night, when the whale’s eye was above the water and it began to threaten his life.
Another expedition member, blogger Sergei Dolya, said that the national park employees did nothing for a long time, but later poured water on the whale’s eyes so that they would not dry out. After some time, they also swam up to the whale in a boat, went down into the water and watered it.
National Park employees water the whale. Photo by Ruslan Usachev
A helicopter from the Ministry of Emergency Situations sent to help rescuers. Official version
Deputy Director for Environmental Protection of the “Reserved Amur Region” Dmitry Grankin, that rescuers on the island do not have enough equipment to pull out the whale. There are supposedly only two boats on Big Shantar, and with their help a whale can be turned around with a kilometer-long cable. It is unlikely that anyone would have decided to attach it to the tail of a whale - it weighs almost 70 tons.
The press service of the main department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Khabarovsk Territory stated that a helicopter was sent to the island to assist in rescuing the whale. On board there was a regional search and rescue team of rescuers with an operational group of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. They went there to “assess the situation and assist in rescuing the whale.”
At the same time, experts noted that when rescuing a whale using a helicopter, there was a risk of an aircraft crash.
Usachev's version
In the video, Usachev said that the Emergencies Ministry helicopter never arrived. According to him, these days a typhoon from Japan was raging in Primorye and helicopters from the Ministry of Emergency Situations were sent there.
To carry out rescue operations, the Ministry of Emergency Situations called all helicopters to its location. [...] That is, if a helicopter from the Ministry of Emergency Situations had flown to save a whale, it would not have flown to save people. [...] It’s as if a house was on fire, and the firefighters were saving the cat first.
A bowhead, which had been stranded for more than a day, went to sea in the Khabarovsk Territory. The thirty-meter animal was stuck at the mouth of the island of Bolshoi Shantar. National park workers gave pessimistic forecasts for the future, but the whale was able to free itself from the trap during high tide. Now experts want to try to follow the further fate of the Red Book mammal.
The whale got stuck in the river on the night of August 10. The national park did not have the necessary equipment to move the 70-ton animal, and the whale itself tried to plunge into the water again and thereby caused damage to itself, writes vostokmedia.com. Russian Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoy wrote on social networks that the animal managed to escape.
“Many thanks to everyone who participated and worried about the stranded whale! The director of the Shantar Islands National Park, Vladimir Andronov, just called - the whale left the mouth of the river into the sea with the tide, colleagues escorted him to the edge. Will keep watching! Keith was saved! - said the head of the ministry.
According to blogger Sergei Dolya, who was on the Shantar Islands at that moment, before high tide, workers of the national park poured water on the whale, risking their lives. The mammal could strike people with its tail.
Let us remind you that in 2015 there were 37 whales in Chile. The reasons for the mass suicide of mammals remain unknown. In addition, the local climate did not allow us to determine exactly when the animals died.
On the morning of August 10, a whale was discovered at the mouth of the river flowing from Lake Bolshoi on Bolshoi Shantar Island in the Khabarovsk Territory. This was reported by representatives of the directorate of parks and reserves "Zapovednoye Priamurye". Presumably, the whale was driven into the mouth by a pod of killer whales. Due to the fact that the animal hit the bottom with its tail, it was injured, but not life-threatening. Experts claimed that the whale was in serious danger: it could neither turn around nor go out into the lake because it was in too narrow a place. Scientists believed that the tide would help him. with reference to tjournal, talks about two versions of saving the whale.
Later, reports about the rescue operation began to appear in the media. The regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations said that the whale tried to get out on its own, but it did not work. The rescue operation was personally supervised by the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sergei Donskoy.
On the evening of the same day, the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sergei Donskoy, published a message that the whale had freed itself.
“The director of the Shantar Islands national park, Vladimir Andronov, just called - the whale left the mouth of the river into the sea with the tide, colleagues escorted him to the edge. They will continue to monitor! The whale was saved,” wrote Head of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources Sergei Donskoy.
Blogger Ruslan Usachev, who was on the island with the Mamont Cup 2017 expedition, stated in the video that the official version of the whale rescue differs from what actually happened.
“Almost this whole story of saving the whale is a lie. I can say this with confidence, because I was there. The whale ran aground literally in front of our camp. I brushed my teeth this morning, looking at the whale,” wrote blogger Ruslan Usachev.
Possible options for saving the whale. Official version
Experts discussed options for saving the whale if the tide does not help it and considered different options.
“We are exploring the option of using mechanisms to remove the whale, we will move it, lift it on straps. Colleagues are considering all options, such an order has been given. But the most humane thing is to remove the whale during the night tide. We hope that it will be able to turn around, or go out in reverse, - said Nikolai Gudkov, press secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Rescue operation. Photo: Ruslan Usachev
Usachev's version
According to Usachev, there were no rescuers or scientists specializing in marine animals on the island. There were 24 expedition members, scientists studying local swamps and national park employees.
As he told TJ, the national park employees had the option of somehow pushing the whale with a boat. It is unknown whether they and management discussed other options to save the animal. The basic plan was to wait for the tide. In the video, he said that specialists had no way to get to the island.
Think for yourself how they could have ended up there. A whale ran aground in a random river on a random island. Should a specialist be stationed on each of the islands in Russia? We don't have that many specialists in marine animals. They couldn’t fly there - the weather was bad. Arrive by boat? We sailed there for six hours because there was a force three storm.
Water and fire pumps for the whale. Official version
The press service of the main department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Khabarovsk Territory told Interfax that employees of the national park are pouring water on the whale using motor pumps.
Usachev's version
Usachev said that there were no pumps on the island. According to him, the national park staff did not water the whale for a long time and did not allow expedition members to see it. At the request of Moscow scientists, whom one of the travelers contacted, they were also not allowed to take whale skin samples.
As a result, they watered it twice: the first time, when the expedition members “made a noise” and the second time at night, when the whale’s eye was above the water and it began to threaten his life.
Another participant in the expedition, blogger Sergei Dolya, said that the national park employees did nothing for a long time, but later poured water on the whale’s eyes so that they would not dry out. After some time, they also swam up to the whale in a boat, went down into the water and watered it.
Whale. Photo: Ruslan Usachev
A helicopter from the Ministry of Emergency Situations sent to help rescuers. Official version
Deputy Director in the field of environmental protection of the “Reserved Amur Region” Dmitry Grankin told that rescuers on the island do not have enough equipment to pull the whale out. There are supposedly only two boats on Big Shantar, and with their help a whale can be turned around with a kilometer-long cable. It is unlikely that anyone would have decided to attach it to the tail of a whale - it weighs almost 70 tons.
The press service of the main department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Khabarovsk Territory stated that a helicopter was sent to the island to assist in rescuing the whale. On board there was a regional search and rescue team of rescuers and an operational group of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. They went there to “assess the situation and assist in rescuing the whale.”
At the same time, experts noted that when rescuing a whale using a helicopter, there was a risk of an aircraft crash.
Usachev's version
In the video, Usachev said that the Emergencies Ministry helicopter never arrived. According to him, these days a typhoon from Japan was raging in Primorye and helicopters from the Ministry of Emergency Situations were sent there.
To carry out rescue operations, the Ministry of Emergency Situations called all helicopters to its location. [...]That is, if a helicopter from the Ministry of Emergency Situations had come to save a whale, it would not have come to save people.[...]It’s as if a house was on fire, and the firefighters were saving the cat first.
This morning a tragedy unfolded in front of our camp. At night, a whale entered the channel where we are standing and got stuck during low tide.
Now he is broke. Can't move yet. I've already cut myself in two places. There is blood. We contacted scientists in Moscow who study whales, they said the most important thing is not to pour water into its blowhole or onto its eyes. From time to time we approach the whale on a boat and check its eyes - they are still under water.
Everyone is very worried and thinking about how to save the whale. There are many ideas, but so far nothing has been implemented. We just sit and watch him from the shore. I really feel sorry for him...
UPD 1.
The tide has begun. The whale is bleeding, but alive. We hope that when the water rises he will be able to go out to sea. True, today, according to the forecast, the daytime tide is low, so it may not be able to come out. Then let's hope that it will last through the evening low tide, and there should be a high tide at night.
The attitude of the scientists and national park employees who stand next to us and watch the whale suffer is striking. They don’t allow us to do anything and don’t want to take responsibility themselves.
Scientists from Moscow wrote what needs to be done to alleviate his suffering while he is broke, but they do not allow us to do this.
And the scientists also wrote: “It will be super cool if you take a piece of skin. For us, every whale sample for genetics is worth its weight in gold.”
While the tide was at its maximum, it was possible to calmly approach the whale by boat and take a sample, but local scientists again began to shift responsibility and deny it. In general, no one did this, although we raised everyone’s ears here. It’s just infuriating that such a unique opportunity could have been used, but they - the scientists - did not take advantage of it. They referred to the fact that they are swamp scientists and study botany, not whales.
UPD 2.
Letter from scientists:
“Dear Rimma Sabirovna and Sergey, I saw a photo of a whale. This is not an adult whale or even a “young” one, it’s a calf!! It’s probably no more than 5-6 m in length. Although you should beware of the tail, it’s definitely he can and NEEDS to be helped. A cub of this size, of course, can be approached and needs to be turned around. These are such annoying misunderstandings during communication. They told me “young” in a telephone conversation, but “young” (even a one-year-old) differs from a cub in that way. , that its size is about 9 m. And you can’t physically do anything with such an animal. In general, please, let the tourists turn the calf around. The tourists weren’t even allowed to come up and take skin samples. And everyone was counting on it! that the NP staff will provide all possible assistance. Now, regarding the situation in general: he is so tiny that he should be with his mother. If he can be taken out to sea at high tide, then do not go on boats around him, do not pollute the sea with noise. When he is at sea, you will not do anything, all your actions will be taken away. curiosity. But we need to provide an opportunity for him to find his mother (or for her to find him). So the less noise there is in the water, the better the chances. Please keep updated"
UPD. 3
Finally, we managed to persuade the “swamp scientists” to do at least something. They approached the whale and poured water over its eyes. Normal scientists wrote to us from Moscow that it is very important that his eyes do not dry out and that water should be poured on them.
And so, they stand next to each other and discuss the whale and laugh at the bloggers. It’s like we’re worrying about the whale and science in vain. Snatches of their phrases reach us. They become such heroes themselves. Disgusting...
UPD. 4
The tide has passed. He turned out to be small. Keith didn't move. The tide has begun to ebb. The water drains very quickly. A whale is being nibbled by small fish - take a closer look at the photo.
The management of the National Park categorically forbade us to approach the whale and either help direct it to the exit from the channel or take samples. To do this, you had to tie a washcloth to an oar and rub the whale. But the management of the National Park told the local ranger, who is in charge of the situation, not to pay attention to the “panic of bloggers” and not to take any samples.
They write to me in the comments that the news is talking about a pump used to water a whale - a lie. They actually brought a pump, but they decided not to use it to water the whale, because they were afraid of getting into the blowhole.
In general, the situation is difficult. The whale remains in place until the next tide.
UPD. 5
It's twilight here. It's getting dark. The water continues to drain. Keith doesn't even twitch anymore. Tired. He just lies there and sometimes “sighs” loudly. Still no one is doing anything. Everyone just sits on the shore and watches.
For the press - thanks to everyone who covers this problem and helps influence the management of the National Park. My telegram is @sergeydolya - write there. I have satellite internet and no cell phone service here.
UPD. 6
Very strong tide. The whale is dry. Nobody does anything or gives us anything. A terrible sight. We can just go into the water in rubber boots and at least start watering it, but the park representatives won’t let us do that!
In general, we are all in shock here. I feel very sorry for the whale. If during the day we still hoped for a happy outcome, now hope is gone...
UPD. 7
Hooray! The National Park staff began to act. They lowered the boat and approached the whale. They jumped into the icy water and watered the whale, first on one side and then on the other.
They greatly risked their lives, as the whale began to move and could kill them with its tail. Real heroes! Real men!
Thanks to everyone who supported and reposted this news! We were able to reach you!
There is now a chance that the whale will survive until high tide, which starts in three hours.
I will update the post as the situation changes...
The dramatic story of the bowhead whale ended happily. The 30-ton calf, which ran aground at the mouth of a river in the Far East and was essentially trapped, nevertheless gained strength and went out to sea during high tide. Rescuers were with him all the way.
The whale lay in shallow water in the middle of the river for almost a day. He could neither turn back into the sea nor move forward onto the lake surface. While trying to get out, the animal was seriously injured on the rocks.
The whale is approximately 10 meters in length, as experts have determined, and is still just a calf. To prevent the skin from drying out, it is watered from the boat with water. The inspectors of the marine reserve were the first to come to the rescue - here, in the area of the Shantar Islands, the place is far from civilization.
In July 2017, Russian biologists filmed a video off the coast of Kamchatka of a pod of killer whales overtaking a 12-meter whale and preventing it from surfacing for air. The same thing could happen to this baby.
700 kilometers from the scene of the incident, rescuers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations from Khabarovsk are gathering for help. They take boats and equipment with them, which they will use to try to move the whale. Meanwhile, new reports are coming from the Shantar Islands: practically crawling on its belly, the baby has moved forward 200 meters. And again he became stranded. Fish begin to eat his body.
This reminds many of the story of 30 years ago, when three gray whales got stuck in the ice in Alaska and a rescue operation had to be carried out. But one of the giants still died. And years later the story is filmed.
Meanwhile, on Shantar, scientists were waiting for the tide, only it would help the whale move. Travelers from Moscow are witnessing the drama - they are on a tour of the Sea of Okhotsk. After a sleepless night, tourists report the long-awaited news.
“At night there was a strong tide. In complete darkness and fog, the whale was able to free itself. After the water completely covered him, he swam up to the boat of the rescuers, who were pouring water on him, stood next to it for a while, as if saying goodbye, then he strongly waved his tail and walked away along the channel, along the high water towards the sea. Everyone was very worried, of course, here, but now everyone is very happy,” said eyewitness Sergei Dolya.
Russian Minister of Nature Sergei Donskoy could not contain his emotions either. He controlled the situation personally.
“Many thanks to everyone who participated and worried about the stranded whale! The director of the Shantar Islands National Park, Vladimir Andronov, just called - the whale left the mouth of the river into the sea with the tide, colleagues escorted him to the edge. Will keep watching! Keith was saved! - Minister of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation Sergei Donskoy shared the news.
Dehydration and cuts were the only things the whale ultimately suffered from. But scientists say that the wounds will heal quickly - the animal is strong if it was able to make such a powerful leap.
