Humpback whale remains stuck in lagoon at Walvis Bay

EFFORTS to rescue a humpback whale that got stranded in the shallow waters of the Walvis Bay lagoon on Saturday continue. So far, attempts to get the six-metre-long whale afloat and into deeper water during high tides have failed.

But Humphrey, as the whale was dubbed by his rescuers, is still alive and seems to be doing well. On Sunday morning, the first rescuers on the scene covered the whale with a large blanket of jute, towels and newspapers, which was kept wet throughout the day by teams working in shifts.This was done to protect him against the sun and attacks from seagulls.It was hoped that the high tide on Sunday evening would bring the ordeal to an end, but the water remained too shallow.Naudé Dreyer, organiser of the rescue team, said they managed to turn Humphrey’s head toward the deep sea, but the whale turned back towards the shore.Some rescuers stayed by the whale’s side throughout the night.”It seems that a human presence close to him has a calming effect on him,” said one member of the team.When some dolphins swam around him at one stage, he was also perceived to be breathing better, he said.By yesterday morning, some 15 inmates from the Walvis Bay Prison were trying to dig an underwater trench to facilitate the whale’s escape, but the water was still not deep enough for Humphrey’s estimated eight-tonne frame to float.In the meantime, all efforts revolved around keeping his skin wet and his head under water.”He seems to be breathing fine, but with such a heavy weight resting on the bottom of the lagoon, the possibility exists that he could have injured his ribcage,” said Dreyer.The team was waiting hopefully for last night’s high tide, when the plan was to get Humphrey buoyant on top of inflated tubes and drag him towards the ocean with two boats.On Sunday morning, the first rescuers on the scene covered the whale with a large blanket of jute, towels and newspapers, which was kept wet throughout the day by teams working in shifts.This was done to protect him against the sun and attacks from seagulls.It was hoped that the high tide on Sunday evening would bring the ordeal to an end, but the water remained too shallow.Naudé Dreyer, organiser of the rescue team, said they managed to turn Humphrey’s head toward the deep sea, but the whale turned back towards the shore.Some rescuers stayed by the whale’s side throughout the night.”It seems that a human presence close to him has a calming effect on him,” said one member of the team.When some dolphins swam around him at one stage, he was also perceived to be breathing better, he said.By yesterday morning, some 15 inmates from the Walvis Bay Prison were trying to dig an underwater trench to facilitate the whale’s escape, but the water was still not deep enough for Humphrey’s estimated eight-tonne frame to float.In the meantime, all efforts revolved around keeping his skin wet and his head under water.”He seems to be breathing fine, but with such a heavy weight resting on the bottom of the lagoon, the possibility exists that he could have injured his ribcage,” said Dreyer.The team was waiting hopefully for last night’s high tide, when the plan was to get Humphrey buoyant on top of inflated tubes and drag him towards the ocean with two boats.