News / Pilot whale moved to Lunna
A YOUNG pilot whale that had become trapped in Vidlin Voe, in Shetland, over the last two days was successfully herded out of the inlet on Wednesday morning.
However, the mammal was last seen near a beach at Lunna – giving rise to fear that the whale continued to be disorientated.
Pete Bevington of Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary said it was still unclear whether the rescue attempt had been entirely successful.
Bevington praised local lads James Johnson, Sam Nicolson and Paul Hunter describing their help in encouraging the whale out of the marina as “invaluable”.
After attempts to help the animal on Tuesday evening were unsuccessful, marred by one boat owner repeatedly encircling the cetacean, wildlife volunteers had mustered support from a number of boat owners to give it another go.
With the help of two RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) belonging to Lerwick port controller Ryan Leith and Bigton man Ian White, as well as a traditional rowing boat crewed by the three local lads, the team eventually managed to herd the pilot whale out of the constraints of the marina and slowly into more open water.
Bevington said once the whale had passed the ferry terminal it was as though the animal started to get back its bearing and began to swim more freely.
It started moving faster and faster, past the salmon farm, and to the head of the voe until it couldn’t be seen anymore.
Believing their mission had been successful the two RIBs returned to the Vidlin marina.
However, later the same day the pilot whale, which is believed to have become separated from its pod, was seen in the water just 50 metres off the beach near the Lunna kirk.
Bevington said the advice they were receiving was that the whale was either just catching its breath before moving on, or continued to stay in the area as it had lost its group of animals.
Either way it was a matter of keeping a watching brief on the animal: “We feel very happy that we managed to get it out of the marina and past the salmon farm,” he added. “I think we have done the best we could in the circumstances.”
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