You are here: Home → Rescues → 1993, November 08, Patons Rock, Golden Bay, South Island, Pilot Whales
While rescuers toiled to refloat the 45 pilot whales found beached at Farewell Spit, Department of Conservation (DoC0 staff received news of another pod of 110 animals, stranded on the other side of Golden Bay at 1730 hours. Residents and volunteers reacted quickly to use the prevailing high tide to encourage the whales back into the water, but the pod rebeached itself 20 minutes later and an all-night vigil was established to look after the whales.
Mr Lawless (DoC) was quoted in a subsequent newspaper “If we had had 100 or 150 people we might have been able to stop them coming in, but it just wasn’t possible.”
During the night two untrained rescuers were injured as they stumbled around the whales in the dark. One whale flicked a woman high into the air with its tail, then almost crushed her as it thrashed near her prone body. She received minor concussion and a broken tooth, but had to be airlifted out for medical help. An overseas tourist helping with the rescue stood on a whale’s tail and the whale lashed out, seriously bruising the man’s thigh. He too was taken to hospital, but was reported to be in a comfortable condition.
At 0700 hrs the following morning (i.e., the 9th of November) 200 rescuers encouraged the whales back into the water.
| Name | Pilot whale, long-finned |
|---|---|
| Image |
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| Suborder | Odontoceti |
| Family | Delphinidae |
| Max. size - Male | 6.7 m (21.9 ft) |
| Max. size - Female | 5.7 m (18.7 ft) |
| Calf size | 1.7-1.8 m (5.5-5.9 ft) |
| Max. weight - Male | 2,300 kg |
| Max. weight - Female | 1,300 kg |
| Calf weight | 75 kg |
| Food | primary food is squid, but known to take fish |
| Latin name | Globicephala melas |
| Location | Golden Bay, South Island |
|---|---|
| Latitude | -40.78732 |
| Longitude | 172.76113 |
| Number of Whales | 100-130 |
| Number rescued/saved | approximately 100 |
Ingrid has attended numerous mass and individual strandings. She is experienced in sampling and data collection at these events, and in the use of refloatation Rescue Pontoons and other rescue equipment. She has served on the Board and was a trainer for another stranding rescue group.
From a background as the NZ Whale Rescue Coordinator and a Fisheries Officer, Steve went on to design and implement both the Marine Mammal Medic (MMM) course, including full procedure manuals and the Whale Rescue Refloatation Pontoon System in the 1980s. Originally designed to train DoC staff and authorities in effective whale rescue techniques, Steve later redeveloped the MMM course for the layperson.
Whale Rescue is a volunteer organisation, run by volunteers. There are lots of different ways that you can help us to continue rescuing whales and dolphins.