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Stranded whale to be put to sleep Stranded sick whale put to sleep
(about 1 hour later)
A 26ft (8m) whale that beached on a mudflat off the south coast of England is to be put to sleep with a lethal injection, rescuers said. A 26ft (8m) whale that beached on a mudflat off the south coast of England has been put to sleep with a lethal injection, rescuers said.
The Northern Bottlenose, which has suffered kidney failure, became trapped in Langstone Harbour, off Hampshire, on Thursday and beached overnight.The Northern Bottlenose, which has suffered kidney failure, became trapped in Langstone Harbour, off Hampshire, on Thursday and beached overnight.
Rescuers had suspended an attempt to issue a lethal injection because the mammal has swam back out to sea.Rescuers had suspended an attempt to issue a lethal injection because the mammal has swam back out to sea.
But at about 1700 BST it beached again with medics on their way to the site. But after it beached again, medics put it to sleep at at about 1845 BST.
Faye Archell, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said: "The whale has stranded again on a sandbank. The lethal injection is just a powerful anaesthetic so it won't be painful to the whale Dr Paul Jepson Experts warned if the six-tonne mammal carried on swimming in deeper water it could take up to two days to die naturally from renal failure, which had been confirmed with a blood test.
"Our medics are en route, we have been told access to the animal is good so we should be able to walk out and plan a lethal injection to kill it humanely."
Experts warned if the six-tonne mammal carried on swimming in deeper water it could take up to two days to die naturally from the renal failure, which had been confirmed with a blood test.
Earlier, the whale was freed from mudflats using a special lifting pontoon but it has remained in shallow water.Earlier, the whale was freed from mudflats using a special lifting pontoon but it has remained in shallow water.
The tide has begun to go back out and at some point later, rescuers are hoping the animal will be brought in and given a lethal injection. Pontoons were used to free the whale from mudflats
Dr Paul Jepson, a vet with the British Zoological Society of London, said: "At some point on the low tide, we'll hopefully be able to get the pontoons on the animal again and bring it towards shore where we can actually administer the lethal injection.
Rescuers used pontoons to free the whale from mudflats
"The lethal injection is just a powerful anaesthetic so it won't be painful to the whale in any way. It should effect euthanasia pretty rapidly."
An operation to try to save the whale, believed to be a young adult, began on Thursday.An operation to try to save the whale, believed to be a young adult, began on Thursday.
Deep-sea squid
Mystery still surrounds why the whale ended up about 3,000 miles (4,828 km) off course, but it was possible it was already ill, experts said.Mystery still surrounds why the whale ended up about 3,000 miles (4,828 km) off course, but it was possible it was already ill, experts said.
"When it's too shallow to feed, they become dehydrated, and they become weakened and that's the problem," Dr Jepson said. Dr Paul Jepson, a vet with the British Zoological Society of London, said: "When it's too shallow to feed, they become dehydrated, and they become weakened and that's the problem.
"Then they strand and get the muscle damage. It's a picture that we're increasingly recognising now, the more we investigate these strandings."Then they strand and get the muscle damage. It's a picture that we're increasingly recognising now, the more we investigate these strandings.
Dr Paul Jepson of the London Zoological SocietyDr Paul Jepson of the London Zoological Society
"It may originally have been part of a pod, a larger group, and it's become separated for reasons unknown."It may originally have been part of a pod, a larger group, and it's become separated for reasons unknown.
"And it could have been a week or two weeks swimming away from where it should have been, or maybe even more.""And it could have been a week or two weeks swimming away from where it should have been, or maybe even more."
Stephen Marsh, an advanced marine mammal medic with BDMLR, told BBC News many people had worked to save the whale as well as two specialist vets.Stephen Marsh, an advanced marine mammal medic with BDMLR, told BBC News many people had worked to save the whale as well as two specialist vets.
About a dozen firefighters, police, coastguards, the RNLI from Ryde and Hayling Island harbour staff took part in the rescue attempt.About a dozen firefighters, police, coastguards, the RNLI from Ryde and Hayling Island harbour staff took part in the rescue attempt.
The species feed on deep-sea squid, which are not readily available in the English Channel.The species feed on deep-sea squid, which are not readily available in the English Channel.
It is the same species of whale as one that died despite a massive rescue attempt to save it when it swam up the River Thames in January 2006.It is the same species of whale as one that died despite a massive rescue attempt to save it when it swam up the River Thames in January 2006.
Are you in the area? Did you see the rescue attempts? Send your comments and pictures using the form below:Are you in the area? Did you see the rescue attempts? Send your comments and pictures using the form below:
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