Sperm Whale Rescue

We can help. 

 

Digit

I have it on good authority that the biologist heading up this rescue is well known. This email came in from a friend of mine and expert on marine mammals.

Donate: Sperm Whale Rescue

Hi Everyone,

I have gotten a few inquiries about an entangled sperm whale in the waters off Dominica ( an island country in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique.) I am fortunate to have met Ted Cheeseman of Cheeseman’s Safaris at various Marine Mammal meetings. He has been kind enough to send me information on this whale.

Digit has been entangled since March. Despite what you may have seen on the web – whale disentanglements are difficult and dangerous for both the whale and the rescuers. It is essential that they be attempted only by well-trained people with the right equipment. It is very easy to do more harm than good for the whale. As most of you know, sperm whales can dive deep and long – making any disentanglement effort even more difficult and dangerous for both the whale and the rescuers. There is also the issue of permitting and coordinating in a less developed country.

Here’s some images of Digit.  http://www.happywhale.com/individual/1828. It is amazing that she appears to be in good health, because the rope is unquestionably cutting into her tail.

Cheeseman’s Safari Company has set up fundraiser website: https://www.crowdrise.com/SpermWhaleRescue — it will take money to get a team there. So far, they have raised just over $5000 of the $8000 needed. This is the sort of thing – much like donating to PCLK (Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers) -- where you know even a small donation will make a difference. We all have contact lists – feel free to edit and send this out to yours.

The good news is that not only are funds being raised, but three locals from Dominica received disentanglement training.

Thanks to Ted Cheeseman and all that are helping this whale,

 Sperm Whale Rescue

Ted Cheeseman is crowdrising for Rescue a Sperm Whale: https://www.crowdrise.com/SpermWhaleRescue