Whale Rescue

Earlier this morning a pilot whale was spotted in shallow water of the Firth of Forth and a major rescue is underway. It keeps swimming on its side, in circles.

It is reported that it may have a collapsed lung, which has affected its balance, so the rescuers have been supporting it to keep it level. However, when released it swam to shore and floundered, possibly injuring itself on the rocks. It was swiftly guided again to deeper water; later flotation devices were employed to take the strain but this strategy appears to have been abandoned.

Sadly, according to an expert on cetaceans that was watching near us, there is little chance that the animal will survive, despite all the efforts in progress and euthanasia would spare the whale further suffering.