Colin 

On Sunday, 17^th August 2008, the ORRCA hotline received a report of a whale at Church Point on the northern side of Sydney. On investigation the animal was identified as a young humpback whale calf. National Parks and Wildlife Officers (NPWS) and the Water Police monitored the animal due to the heavy water traffic in this area, in hope that the whale’s mother would soon return. Unfortunately this was not to be the case.

On Monday morning, ORRCA and NPWS continued to monitor the whale calf. All reports of whale sightings were investigated in hope of locating the young whale’s mother. This also continued throughout the following days. Reports of whales were received, but unfortunately, all were identified as southern right whales.

The young whale had now started to nudge and try and feed from the hull of several boats. It was then that a decision was made to try and lure the young whale out to deeper water in hope that it would be able to be found by its mother, if she was still around, or by others of its own kind. Sea conditions hampered rescuers from taking the young animal too far past the headland. In open water, the young whale disappeared. The boat crew turned and headed home.

The next morning found the little whale, now known as “Colin” (named after one of the rescuers), back in Pittwater near The Basin.

The media frenzy had now begun.

ORRCA and authorities continued to discuss the best options for Colin’s rescue.

ORRCA volunteers continued to monitor the young whale’s progress. No-one had given up hope of a successful rescue.

The public interest was now greater than ever. People were pledging money and coming forward with ideas to help save the little whale.

All options were explored with consideration given to their complexities, ramifications and chances of Colin’s long term survival.

Colin’s best chance of survival was to be reunited with his mother, or others of his own kind.

ORRCA volunteers and NPWS staff were assembled at the Basin to assist expert veterinarians with an assessment of the little whale. Colin was quite energetic and hampered the vets from getting a complete assessment.

 Colin was still being monitored 24 hours

A conference was to be held on Thursday evening, to discuss Colin’s best chance of long term survival. Various options were to be discussed and planned to best help the whale.

However, late Thursday afternoon, Colin’s condition quickly deteriorated. He was no longer swimming strongly, trying to suckle and began to lie motionless and lethargic in the water. Veterinarians on examination of the poor little whale were shocked at how badly Colin had deteriated in a matter of a few hours.

It was now that the Authorities, after much consultation, reached the sad decision to euthanise the poor little animal, complying with the Cruelty to Animals Act.

On Friday morning veterinarians did what they had to do to end Colin’s suffering. Despite reports to the contrary, it was quick and controlled. Colin was pronounced dead at 09:11.

This was not the end result that anyone involved with this rescue had hoped for. It was devastating to all.

Colin was taken to Taronga Zoo for necropsy. Hopefully we may find a few answers, but only time will heal the pain of those involved.

Please be assured that Colin’s best interest and long term survival was always the paramount concern for all those involved.

ORRCA would like to thank its members, NPWS, Taronga Zoo, RSPCA, SeaWorld, Water Police and NSW Maritime for all their efforts to try and save Colin.

Also thankyou to the members of the public, whale focused organisations and fellow wildlife carer groups for their support.

ORRCA Marine Mammal Rescue Training Workshops for 2008

Central Coast - 19 and 20 April - completed

North Coast - 12 and 13 July - completed

Central Coast - 11 and 12 October 

(this has been changed due to unforseen circumstances)

The winter edition 2008 of

'Flippers and Flukes'

is now available from the website

orrca@orrca.org.au

This is ORRCA!

 

Australia is a country familiar with whale strandings. ORRCA works with the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change and other government agencies at these events.  Effective rescue procedures took quite a long while to perfect. Even by the mid 1980s few animals could be saved. However Australia now has  a leading role in the development of whale rescue techniques and has an excellent success record at mass strandings. ORRCA is leading the way in  developing more effective ways to rescue whales and other marine mammals.

  

ORRCA is  the most experienced and successful whale rescue organisation in Australia.

  

Every year ORRCA trains many members of government agencies (including the Department of Environment and Climate Change) and ORRCA Members in marine mammal rescue.

 

ORRCA is also involved with the protection and welfare of seals, sea lions, dolphins and dugongs. Every year ORRCA volunteers spend many hours protecting hauled out seals and monitoring other marine mammals. We also work with Government Authorities and other groups with marine mammal rehabilitation and release. ORRCA's input is also sought when legislative bodies are amending existing laws or introducing new ones.

  

We assist with, monitor, and give advice on  marine animal entanglements.

  

ORRCA members receive a quarterly newsletter 'Flippers and Flukes'. This  keeps members up to date with the latest in best practices and procedures from Australia and around the world. We also encourage our members to tell  stories of their experiences with marine wildlife.

 

We have active research programs to better understand the problems that marine mammals encounter and to discover possible solutions and favourable outcomes. Our research includes necropsies, bone recoveries, skeletal exhumations, whale migration and behaviour monitoring and observations, as well as ongoing investigations in other areas.

 

Public education is another of our activities. We are always willing to share our knowledge as we are there for all.

 

Everyone in ORRCA is a volunteer. ORRCA is the only wildlife carers group in New South Wales licensed to be involved with marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation and release. Our members come from all walks of life, age groups and nationalities. We operate as a non-profit organisation and have charity status. View our constitution here.

 

Most importantly ORRCA operates a 24 hour / 7- day- a- week Marine Mammal Hotline. This telephone Hotline is staffed by volunteers and keeps ORRCA members, Government Authorities and interested members of the public informed of marine mammal emergencies, incidents and sightings. These incidents are not only in New South Wales but often in other states or even other countries.

 

ORRCA receives limited Government funding and grants but otherwise relies on income from memberships, donations and workshops  to keep the hotline and the organisation functioning.

 

ORRCA membership is open to all and your enquiries are welcome at orrca@orrca.org.au or by phoning the ORRCA Hotline on (61+ 02) 9415 3333.