21-05-2025
Juvenile humpback whale euthanised after stranding near Plettenberg Bay
A juvenile humpback whale weighing about five tons that stranded at Robberg Nature Reserve near Plettenberg Bay has, sadly, been humanely euthanised by marine authorities, assisted by SAPS, after extensive efforts to save the animal proved unsuccessful.
According to Knysna-Plett Herald, Dr Gwenith Penry, a marine mammal scientist and permitted stranding responder for Bayworld, Port Elizabeth Museum, said rescue efforts began on Monday at about 14:00 and continued until yesterday before it was decided to euthanise the 7m whale.
Penry said all protocols were followed before the whale — which had stranded on a beach between the Gap and Robberg and the Island on Robberg Nature Reserve, also known as The Wild Side — was put down.
Despite the efforts of many helpers and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Plettenberg Bay duty crew, the rescue attempt was unsuccessful.
Emotional effort
'It took four hours to try and move the heavy whale, but each time the whale got into deeper water it turned around and headed for the beach again,' said Penry.
When it got dark on Monday, rescue attempts were postponed until yesterday.
'It was a very emotional, and a sad ending for such a beautiful animal,' said Penry.
This is the season when humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to their breeding grounds in Mozambique and Madagascar.
Thanks to all involved
'A huge thanks to Plett NSRI who carried the effort yesterday. And to the Plett Stranding Network, Cape Nature rangers and other members of the public who assisted,' said Penry.
NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander Jaco Kruger said duty crew, Cape Nature rangers and the Plettenberg Bay Marine Animal Stranding Network were activated following reports of the beaching.
'Our NSRI Plettenberg Bay crew responded to our NSRI Plettenberg Bay Station 14 rescue base, while additional NSRI crew responded to the land side at Robberg to hike to the scene. Our NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer, Eric Stratford, and Courtenays Rescuer were launched while additional NSRI crew, Cape Nature rangers and members of the Plettenberg Bay Marine Animal Stranding Network responded. On arrival at the scene the approximately 7m juvenile humpback whale was found beaching in shallow surf,' Kruger said.
Good Samaritans joined efforts
The teams, assisted by bystander good Samaritans, conducted extensive efforts to re-float the whale through the surf zone in a rising tide, including attempts to tow the whale to deeper waters using NSRI rescue craft.
Sadly, despite all of the extensive efforts deployed, the whale continued to beach and it was deemed by the authorities to be no longer viable to save.
Yesterday morning, marine authorities, assisted by SAPS, humanely euthanised the whale.
Samples have been collected by marine scientists for necropsy at the Port Elizabeth Museum.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
