A heartwarming success story unfolded off the coast of Sanya City as Haitang, a short-finned pilot whale, was released back into the wild after a 140-day recovery journey.
Discovered on January 3, Haitang was found stranded on a beach in Haitang District, Hainan Province, by concerned tourists. The young whale, suffering from multiple injuries and unable to swim independently, received immediate attention from dedicated veterinarians and volunteers at the Sanya Haichang Animal Conservation Center.
\"Rescuing and releasing stranded short-finned pilot whales have previously been a rare success,\" said veterinarian Xiong Chunlin. \"Whales float in the water. After getting stranded, the larger the whale, the greater the gravity it bears, and the more serious the injuries caused by compression. Therefore, it's very rare for Haitang to recover to a normal state from stranding to rescue.\"
Under the care of technicians and volunteers, Haitang's condition steadily improved. His body length grew from 3.6 meters to 3.96 meters, and by the time of his release, he weighed 500 kilograms. Crucially, Haitang demonstrated the ability to hunt independently and recognize his own species, indicators of his readiness to thrive in the wild.
The Blue Ribbon Ocean Conservation Association played a pivotal role in Haitang's recovery and release. Pu Bingmei, the organization's secretary-general, explained that the chosen release area, situated 70 nautical miles off Sanya's coast in waters 500 meters deep, avoided busy shipping lanes and was known for its short-finned pilot whale population activity. This strategic location increases the likelihood of Haitang reconnecting with his pod.
Haitang's successful release underscores the dedication and expertise of conservationists and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in marine wildlife rescue operations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
