I just received a couple of links to pictures of a Sperm Whale in the North Sea - thanks Wouter Jan Strietman.
The sperm whale swam into the 'Westerschelde' (a large estuary that
finally ends up in Antwerp) a few weeks back.
http://home.planet.nl/~camphuys/potvisromp2002.jpg
http://home.planet.nl/~camphuys/potvis2002.jpg
(a 'Potvis'(translated 'Bottle-Fish') is a Sperm Whale)
Wouter Jan Strietman has also sent me links to a couple of websites that may be of interest. They concern rehabilitation as follows:
The rehabilitation at Waterland Neeltje Jans (http://www.neeltjejans.nl/en/index.php)
is actually the last stage for stranded
porpoises & dolphins before they are released back into the wild.
When one is saved they are taken to the Dolphin Centre in Harderwijk (www.dolfinarium.nl)
to regain their health. Waterland Neeltje Jans and the Dolphin Centre work
together and Neeltje Jans has operated a rescue and research station for
dolphins since 1995. Once they are fit again the dolphins are returned
to Neeltje Jans from Harderwijk. Research is carried out at Neeltje Jans,
e.g. to seek measures to prevent dolphins from being caught in fishing
nets. Finally, if they are fit again, they are released into the North
Sea.
Currently there are two harbour porpoises in the pen (the ones which
I photographed - see http://www.orcaweb.org/gallery3.html),
but they will never be released because at the time they were too young
and inexperienced. Within the next few weeks a few other porpoises
will be transported from Harderwijk to Waterland, and finally they
will be released.
Apart from porpoises, White Beaked dolphins and even a Striped Dolphin were treated at Waterland.
To my knowledge the Fjord & Baelt Centre in Denmark (http://www.fjord-baelt.dk/) is the only other harbour porpoise rehabilitation in Europe (or even in the world)
_____________________________________________
Simon Mustoe - Director
AES Applied Ecology Solutions Pty Ltd.
59 Joan Avenue
Ferntree Gully
Melbourne
Victoria 3156
AUSTRALIA
Telephone 03 9762 2616
International Telephone +61 (0) 3 9762 2616
Mobile 0405 220830
Website http://www.onthe.net.au/ecologysolutions
