Whale In the Delaware River...

GardenStateGirlie · #1 04-13-2005, 03:59 PM

We thought he was gone but it looks like he turned around and is heading up the river again....

http://www.nbc10.com/news/4372511/detail.html

TRENTON, N.J. -- A local expert says the Beluga whale currently in the Delaware River appears healthy -- and hungry.

Marine experts got as close to the whale as they could on Wednesday near Beverly, N.J.

Around 3 p.m., however, the whale changed direction and started swimming north, back toward Trenton.

They said it appeared to be fairly healthy--and believed it's possibly been in this part of the Delaware River for more than a week.

On the waters of the Delaware near Burlington City, the head of Brigantine's Marine Mammal Stranding Center focused his attention on the wayward 12-foot beluga whale.

"He's wise, he knows the depth," said Bob Schoelkopf. "The animal actually traveled about 40 miles since yesterday, down river, and now it's going back up again. The animal is doing about three knots, which indicates a very strong swimming animal especially going against the current as it is today."

He said the whale, native to Canadian waters, has an old scar across its back but appeared to be fairly healthy.

It spent much of the Tuesday in the Trenton area, but one woman has now reported seeing it south of the capital city last week--on April 4th.

Experts can only speculate on why it came here from the ocean.

"The only thing I can think of is the animal was off-shore feeding, and following the herring," said Schoelkopf. "And the herring happened to come in Delaware Bay and it liked what it was eating and it just kept going until it came all the way up here."

Authorities are trying to make sure boat traffic doesn't get too close to the Beluga. Assuming it's still here, a veterinarian from Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium is expected to do a further check of the whale's health possibly on Friday.

And federal officials will ultimately have to decide whether the animal should be captured or to let nature take its course.

"I'm praying it goes out on its own to the Delaware Bay and out to the ocean and that'll be it," said Larry Niles of the Department Of Environmental Protection.

Experts say the whale is just too wise to be coerced by boats back towards the ocean. It just seems to avoid the boats.

amber · #2 04-13-2005, 04:02 PM

Weird! I hope it goes back. This actually gives me an uneasy feeling...shouldn't it find plenty of food in the ocean? etc.

strandinthewind · #3 04-13-2005, 04:03 PM

I thought for a minute someone spotted me swimming

GardenStateGirlie · #4 04-13-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

Weird! I hope it goes back. This actually gives me an uneasy feeling...shouldn't it find plenty of food in the ocean? etc.

They've been talking about the herring and how apparently, this is a big season right now. Maybe he followed them from the ocean and into the river?? Perhaps out of convenience??? At any rate, he's just hanging out in there...torking up and down from north jersey and down here.

GardenStateGirlie · #5 04-13-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I thought for a minute someone spotted me swimming

You're so not a whale

butifyouwereyoudbeofthetremendouslygoodlookingvariety

Merf · #6 04-13-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

butifyouwereyoudbeofthetremendouslygoodlookingvariety

I saw that, you ho

Kelly · #7 04-13-2005, 09:43 PM

I took my kids to see him today. We followed the news copters and he was easily spotted from the bank. Poor thing! I am very distraught and hope they do take some sort of action if he remains lost. Animals are my passion.
He keeps swimming NORTH up the darn river and not towards the ocean. They say he is swimming strongly and staying submerged for five to seven minutes which a sick whale would not do, so that is good news. He is so white I was quite stunned. I know belugas are white and all but still, he is gorgeous and very large to be trucking up the freaking dumpy Delaware. I hope they help him out!
We have a Marine Mammal stranding center in our state that is very very good as well as an aquarium with alot of highly educated marine biologists so hopefully he will be ok.

NaiveMelody23 · #8 04-13-2005, 11:10 PM

He's just touring, you know whales can do it also.

GardenStateGirlie · #9 04-13-2005, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merf

I saw that, you ho

Lamp. Denim. Blue.

GardenStateGirlie · #10 04-13-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

I took my kids to see him today. We followed the news copters and he was easily spotted from the bank. Poor thing! I am very distraught and hope they do take some sort of action if he remains lost. Animals are my passion.

He keeps swimming NORTH up the darn river and not towards the ocean. They say he is swimming strongly and staying submerged for five to seven minutes which a sick whale would not do, so that is good news. He is so white I was quite stunned. I know belugas are white and all but still, he is gorgeous and very large to be trucking up the freaking dumpy Delaware. I hope they help him out!

We have a Marine Mammal stranding center in our state that is very very good as well as an aquarium with alot of highly educated marine biologists so hopefully he will be ok.

All I keep thinking about is how much crap is in the Delaware...especially oil from the spill a few months ago. I'm sure he'll be fine--he's got plenty of food--that's for sure and people have been instructed to keep away or they'll be fined. If something were to happen to him, the aquarium could nurse him back to health and then set him free again. This is the second time it happened but I this is apparently the longest it's ever stayed in the river. Maybe tomorrow he'll be on the right track--hopefully.

GardenStateGirlie · #11 04-13-2005, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaiveMelody23

He's just touring, you know whales can do it also.

So far he's making like late 70s Fleetwood Mac and Tusk touring. Hopefully he'll find his way out soon or have some guidance but it seems like they don't want to interfere.

NaiveMelody23 · #12 04-14-2005, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

So far he's making like late 70s Fleetwood Mac and Tusk touring. Hopefully he'll find his way out soon or have some guidance but it seems like they don't want to interfere.

Yeah, and when they interfere..which would be a wise tihng it may turn into a pre-tango in the night tour..if you know what I mean

Janet · #13 04-14-2005, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I thought for a minute someone spotted me swimming

You stole my line, I was just about to say that it was ME swimming!

great minds think alike.

BombaySapphire3 · #14 04-14-2005, 08:51 PM

They need to do something to save this whale soon .I'm not sure of the state of that river now but when I was 15 and lived in Bucks county and went on a canoe ride at Washington's Crossing I fell into the river and felt like I'd been dumped into a chemical vat.If it's still anything close to that bad the poor creature's days are numbered if he/she stays in the Delaware.

Kelly · #15 04-14-2005, 09:15 PM

They do need to do something. According to the news, he will begin to have problems with his eyes. He is not used to this type of water..not enough salt etc, and it will begin to affect his sight. That is why they are going to decide by Friday if they should try and capture him and move him out. Evidently he is terrified of people and boats and submerges to the very bottom and stays there whenever any boats go by. Poor baby. Lost from his pod.