16/02/2005 - Attempts
are continuing to save a Gray's beaked whale
that stranded itself on Western Australia's
Busselton coast.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, said the latest stranding
again highlighted the need to understand
the reasons behind whale strandings.
"We are waiting for the results of
a post-mortem from the last beaked whale
stranding on Rottnest less than a month
ago – the twentieth stranding of the species
in WA over the past two decades," Senator
Campbell said.
"We are still learning about this unique
species, which grows to around 5.6 metres
and is usually found in the temperate waters
of the Southern Hemisphere.
"The reasons behind whale and dolphin
strandings remain unknown.
"Aristotle pondered the mystery behind
why these mammals strand themselves as far
back as 350BC.
"The Australian Government is very
concerned about this issue and we are working
hard to save as many of these majestic animals
of the deep as we can – and to find out
why it happens."
The Australian Government is developing
a set of protocols for collection and storage
of information and creating a central, national
database as well as building an Australasian
Marine Mammals Strandings Network.
"The Conservation and Land Management
Authority staff should be congratulated
for their efforts in trying to save this
whale,” Senator Campbell said.
"Their work on the ground is invaluable
while the Government continues to investigate
the reasons behind whale and dolphin strandings."
