Getting whales back to sea

Press, 12 May 1984, Page 20

Getting whales back to sea

Whales and Whale Strandings. By Marjorie Orr. Mclndoe, 1984. 39 pp. Illustrations. $5.95 (paperback).

(Reviewed by

Ian Blair)

According to Dr Alan Baker, whose definitive work on whales and dolphins was reviewed several months ago, 4000 cetaceans have stranded on the New Zealand coast during the last 120 years. Such occurrences among survival-endangered species met with concern and regret among people attracted by whale attributes of size, personality, and group cohesion — evidenced further in the recent strandings on a beach of Great Barrier. It may be noted further, that up to 45 groups in New Zealand, based on Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and Project Jonah, are prepared to work their efforts towards salvage or relief of whales in distress; also, that in provisions of the Marine Mammals Protection Act, 1978, M.A.F. Fisheries Officers and- other specialists (including Mr G. Tunnicliffe, of the Canterbury Museum) are designated to decide whether stranded whales should be returned to the sea if possible, or humanely killed. This attractively presented little note-book, usefully illustrated, is most timely and warrants the widest

possible distribution. The author, Dr Orr, a veterinary investigation officer in Otago, is imbued with concern for the welfare of animal life, and is motivated also to promote understanding of how whale suffering can be minimised. The book is direct and practical for people who, having become cognizant of basic features of communication, intelligence, identification, and first-aid action for whales, would wish them to become involved in laudable salvage endeavours.