COLLEEN THE WHALE?

From News.com.au:

WHALE MUM FOUND, COLIN WAS A GIRL

"WILDLIFE experts will conduct DNA tests on a whale they believe may have been the mother of a lost calf nicknamed Colin, hours after the young whale was euthanased.

The Daily Telegraph reports the development came as National Parks and Wildlife head Sally Barnes revealed Colin was actually Colleen - a female humpback whale calf.

It is believed a whale carcass being eaten by sharks near Eden on the NSW South Coast may have been her mother, explaining why the young whale turned up alone and hungry in Pittwater on Sunday.

Ms Barnes also defended the NPWS handling of the calf's mercy killing, saying it gave her a “peaceful, respectful and dignified end”.

However, witnesses have disputed this account, saying the young whale thrashed and struggled until the very end."

OUTCOME OF COLIN THE WHALE

From News.com.au:

COLIN THE WHALE 'STRUGGLED TO THE END'

"GROWN men were in tears as Colin the abandoned baby humpback whale struggled as he was dragged behind a boat before being left to thrash on a beach after he was injected with a fatal dose of anaesthetic this morning.

Soon after 8.30am (AEST) officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Basin in Sydney's northern beaches gave the calf what was believed to be as many as seven jabs of anaesthetic.

"It's a tragic end to a program that dozens of people have put their hearts and souls into," said NPWS spokesman John Dengate, describing the act of ending Colin's life as "harrowing".

NPWS spokesman Chris McIntosh said: "It was a sad moment, but it went quietly to sleep. "The calf has been quietly and humanely euthanised.' A vet on board a small boat administered an anaesthetic through a large needle, by simply leaning overboard and injecting the weakened humpback calf, he said. But activists said more could have been done to save Colin and locals who witnessed Colin's death said it lacked dignity.

Locals were in tears after the whale was euthanased.

In a shallow cove at Coasters Retreat, NPWS officers and Sea World Vet David Blyde administered about seven injections before towing the whale across the bay.

The local community was outraged at how the NPWS dragged the baby whale, bucking and thrashing, across 300m of water. It was still thrashing when it was pulled up on the beach. “I don’t understand why they didn’t let it die quietly,” said Michael Brown.

“It was obviously distressed. I’m 41 years old and almost collapsed.” Mr Brown and other locals were crying as the baby whale - which had sought refuge in the bay for five days - was lashed by ropes to the NPWS boat as it continued to struggle.

"After this comedy of errors of the past few days I thought that they would euthanase it with some dignity,” said Mr Brown. “For God's sake, it’s a baby. It’s been through hell. It was separated from its mother, it’s been starved and confused.”

A spokesman for the Divine Marine Group said they had organised a legal injunction against the NPWS to prevent Colin being killed but could not serve it in time.

"We had five minutes and during that time they euthanased poor Colin," Captain Alexander John Littingham said on Fairfax radio.

"That was a scene that we witnessed ... and then they towed the whale behind their National Parks and Wildlife boat. It looked like a scene out of the Antarctic with a Japanese fishing boat.

"It was absolutely disgusting."

Capt Littingham said the group had wanted to use a force-feeding system with an electronic pump.

The Environment Department said Colin was euthanased without causing the whale any stress.

"Vets who euthanased the animal said it was a smooth operation and the sedated animal remained stress free and calm throughout," it said.

Police kept the media and environmentalists at a distance while the whale remained on the beach.

It was later loaded onto a trailer to be taken to Taronga Zoo for an autopsy.

The autopsy will be aimed at finding clues as to why the whale was deserted by its mother - beginning the tragic story that has gripped the country."

Poor Colin the Baby Whale

From News.com.au:

COLIN THE WHALE EXPECTED TO BE EUTHANISED TODAY

"TEMPERS are running high at Pittwater, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, as authorities prepare to euthanase abandoned baby humpback whale Colin.

Wildlife activists have confronted National Parks and Wildlife Service officers, claiming more could be done to save the mammal.

A small group is at the Palm Beach wharf and more are believed to be in the Basin, where the whale will be despatched with a lethal injection of anaesthetic.

Experts are defending the decision to put Colin down, saying they have run out of time and options and that he is suffering.

"It's the same as you would do with a dog or cat in pain," one officer said today.

Head of the National Parks and Wildlife Service Sally Barnes last night said Colin's condition had "significantly deteriorated" and the most humane option was to euthanase the calf to "put him out of his misery".

It was believed earlier this morning that the whale might have swum out to sea overnight as he appeared to vanish - but Colin was then located again.

"He was listless, was having trouble breathing was not really staying afloat the way a whale should," Ms Barnes said after vets assessed his condition.

"We had hoped we'd have more time to look at arrangements but we've had to make a very, very difficult decision in the best and most humane interest of the animal to put it down," she said.

The NPWS and other animal welfare groups were supposed to meet last night to discuss ways to help Colin but it was cancelled at the last moment after they realised he was suffering and could not be saved.

The decision to inject the three-week-old with a lethal dose of anaesthetic capped a day of passionate exchanges between environmentalists and NPWS officials on the wharf at The Basin as a whale whisperer and a paediatric doctor both tried to persuade authorities to give Colin a second chance.

But, late in the afternoon, the nation's leading whale vet, David Blyde from Sea World, arrived from the Gold Coast and the decision to put down Colin was made after the whale's condition suddenly deteriorated and his injuries worsened.

Although the lost whale - who had not eaten for at least five days - was not expected to live through the night, officials put off any attempts to euthanase him until daylight.

The decision was made after consultation with Taronga Zoo and animal welfare groups ORRCA and RSPCA.

Once euthanased, the body is expected to be taken to Taronga Zoo for an autopsy to provide scientists with clues as to why it was abandoned by its mother.

Colin had spent the past five days nuzzling boats moored in the cove as if they were its mother."

MORE ON COLIN THE WHALE

From the Daily Telegraph:

CONFUSION PLAGUES FIGHT FOR COLIN

"LAST-ditch attempts to save Colin the whale calf are in disarray, with the SeaWorld vet expected to arrive still on the Gold Coast this morning.

National Parks and Wildlife spokesman John Dengate last night told The Daily Telegraph that SeaWorld chief veterinarian David Blyde had been called to the Pittwater site, expecting him to arrive midmorning, leaving on a 10.55am flight.

He said the vet had been called in "to get a second opinion".

At The Basin site this morning, Mr Dengate again confirmed was expecting Mr Blyde and a SeaWorld team to arrive "mid morning".

However, when contacted by The Daily Telegraph at 9.55am this morning, Dr Blyde said he was still on the Gold Coast, with no definite plans to travel to Sydney today.

"I haven't spoken to National Parks and Wildlife this morning,'' Dr Blyde said.

Soon afterwards, he said the situation had changed, and he was now on his way to Sydney.

Rescuers are also awaiting confirmation of plans to involve the Australian Defence Force in Colin's rescue.

Meanwhile, A paediatric doctor has joined the fight to save Colin.

Dr Kurosh Parsi cancelled all his patients today and trekked through three kilometres of national park to get to The Basin on Pittwater.

As National Parks and Wildlife officers await the arrival of a Seaworld vet, Dr Parsi said they should be treating the whale as doctors would treat a casualty patient.

“I have heard a lot of noise from all over the country talking about what happens to the whale down the track,” said Dr Parsi.

“But we need to take one step at a time in an emergency. This is an emergency. The whale needs to be feed.” "

COLIN THE WHALE

From Sydney Morning Herald:

FINAL SLING SHOT FOR ABANDONED WHALE

"Authorities today will use an inflatable sling in an attempt to unite a baby humpback whale with other whales in a bid to save its life.However experts say it is not physically possible to look after the calf and very little can be done.

The listless and abandoned calf - who has been named Colin - has not eaten for at least five days, and has been attempting to suckle boats around Pittwater, apparently mistaking them for its mother.

"A senior vet [from Taronga Zoo] examined the whale last night and, while the whale is not distressed, his condition has deteriorated as he hasn't fed in days," a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokeswoman said.

"The plan today is to use an inflatable sling to try to get the whale further out to sea where he might hook up with another pod of whales.

"That's probably its best bet."

It was hoped the sling would be more effective in reuniting the whale calf with a lactating female than previous efforts had, she said.

"Previously the whale was lured out to sea by following a yacht that it thought was its mother, but then it turned around and came back in because I think it was still attached to the yacht.
"If we can get it into the sling, we can get it further out to the ocean into deeper water and hopefully closer to another pod of whales."

The National Parks spokeswoman could not say when the attempt would take place.
Late last night, the National Parks contacted the Defence Department regarding the use of a "fuel bladder", believed to be the proposed inflatable sling, a Defence Department spokeswoman said.

The department was still considering the request, she said.

Feeding whale baby formula impossible: expertsRescue measures such as feeding the whale baby formula through a tube or trying to raise it in captivity have been dismissed as impossible by whale experts.

Finding a lactating female to accept the calf was the best best, although even this was unlikely, experts have said.

"If a lactating female with a calf goes past and this calf approaches that animal it may accept it, but ... it's a very slim chance," NPWS spokesman John Dengate said.

Meanwhile, as the young calf's plight sparked passionate discussion on blogs and social-networking sites, its battle for survival has also made international news. CNN, BBC and international wire news services have all covered the story."

COLIN THE WHALE

The following is an excerpt from ABC.NET.AU:

MILITARY READY TO HELP WHALE, BUT EXPERTS PESSIMISTIC

"The Defence Department could swing into action to help a starving whale calf in Sydney, but the main NSW Government spokesman on the whale's fate says military help may not save it.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says his department stands ready to assist in the effort to save the month-old humpback, which is stranded and starving after being abandoned by its mother off Sydney's northern beaches.

Mr Fitzgibbon has confirmed to ABC NewsRadio that he has had a request about using Australian Defence Force (ADF) fuel bladders to tow the whale out to sea, where some hope it would join other whales and find an accommodating, lactating female.

"Yes, well, we're all watching Colin," he said, referring to the whale named after the person who found it.

"He certainly has caught the imagination of most Australians."

Mr Fitzgibbon says he is waiting on more advice from his department.

"We're doing a check now on exactly where we have these bladders, and having established that how we would best get them to the site the location and from there how we would best initiate the process," he said.

"I still haven't had final advice on whether its physically possible, they're getting back to me on that, but I have confirmed that there are bladders around. It's theoretically possible but whether it's practically possible I'm just not sure, I'm still waiting for that additional advice.

"Certainly defence stands ready to assist in any way we can," he said."

Update on Colin the Whale

From News.com.au:

"A spokesman for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service said euthanasia was the "most likely option" for Colin. This would be done with an overdose of anaesthetic.

Vote in our poll: Would you support euthanasia of Colin the whale

"Euthanasia is still the most likely option," NPWS spokesman Chris McIntosh said.
"The animal has taken a turn for the worse."

Vets are examining muscle movement and preparing to take a blood sample.

"He is spending more time on the surface. His muscles are more relaxed," Mr McIntosh said.
He then repeated: "Euthanasia is the most likely option.

"The question is the timing. We want to do it promptly to minimise the stress."

Should Colin be euthanased? Vote now

The enormity of the task of saving Colin should not be underestimated. State Government sources and industry sources today have indicated the cost of a rescue could top $1million and go as high a $2million. "

COLIN THE WHALE

From 7 News:

"Wildlife authorities in Sydney who are facing a public clamour to save a baby whale that has lost its mother, say they have to let nature take its course.

Lost and confused, the baby humpback whale has been trying to suckle a boat that he thinks is his mother.

Without his mother's milk, the calf - which has been named "Colin" - will starve to death.

Hopes were high after a delicate rescue mission yesterday guided the calf out to sea. But Colin the whale reappeared the next day near shore.

"I feel sorry for it," one local resident said. "I'd like to go feed it myself. But what can you do?"
Experts say the calf will probably only survive a week without its mother, and believe he has already been apart from her for five days.

A rescued calf has been reared in captivity before. A week-old Grey Whale was fed formula milk at Sea World in San Diego. However, Sea World on the Gold Coast does not have the facilities to look after the baby whale.

The calf's only hope is to find its way out to sea and join another pod of whales."