At around 6 am on May 26, 2024, the stranded short-finned pilot whale"Haitang"was successfully released into the wild 70 nautical miles away from Sanya in an area of sea 500 meters deep. The first successful rescue of a short-finned pilot whale in China will provide useful experience and a reference for the rescue of other endangered species worldwide.
In China, short-finned pilot whales are classified as second-class protected wild animals. On January 3 this year, the injured male short-finned pilot whale was discovered stranded in Haitang Bay, Sanya. He was found covered in scars with abnormal liver and kidney functions, making it extremely difficult to treat. With the concerted effort of multiple agencies, the whale was taken to the Sanya Haichang Ocean Park Animal Rescue Center for treatment, where he was named"Haitang. "
Over the past four months, conservationists, veterinarians, other experts, and caring volunteers have provided Haitang with meticulous treatment and care. The whale's recovery has been remarkable. By January 5, a few days after his rescue, he started eating and was swimming independently by January 9. His liver function returned to normal on January 18, and on April 27, his blood panel finally came back normal. Over just over four months, he went from being unable to maintain his balance to being able to swim and eat independently. As his physical condition improved, he graduated from the care pool for infusions to the large outdoor pool to undergo reintroduction training. On May 7, after discussions by an expert panel and on-site observation, it was determined that Haitang had reacquired independent survival skills such as predation and identification of its own kind, meeting the standards for release into the wild. It was, therefore, decided that he would be released back into the sea on May 26.
Haitang has returned to the sea to find his pod, and his 145-day journey back to health and home under humanity's loving care is complete.
January 6, 2024: Two volunteers accompany the injured male short-finned pilot whale in the care pool to prevent him from turning on his back and choking on water at the Haichang Ocean Park Animal Rescue Center in Sanya, Hainan. The whale was discovered injured and stranded in Haitang Bay, Sanya, on January 3. With the concerted effort of multiple agencies, the whale was taken to the Sanya Haichang Ocean Park Animal Rescue Center for treatment, where he was named"Haitang. "
January 3, 2024: a male short-finned pilot whale was discovered injured and stranded in Haitang Bay, Sanya. Here, rescue workers from various organizations can be seen rescuing the whale. The short-finned pilot whale is a national second-class protected wild animal in China. Its small population is distributed in the central and southern Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea. (Source: Haitang Bay Station of the China Coast Guard in Sanya)
January 4, 2024: Supported by volunteers, veterinarians at the Haichang Ocean Park Animal Rescue Center in Sanya, Hainan, give the injured Haitang a thorough medical examination, including taking blood and temperature measurements, and administer treatments like fluid infusion and applying ointment to his wounds. After examination, it was found that several health indicators were abnormal.
January 8, 2024: Haitang has multiple external injuries, which veterinarians treat with medicinal sprays.
January 9, 2024: Haitang's keeper hoses him with water to prevent a stress response. By this time, the whale's wounds were scabbing over;splashing water can soothe the whale and relieve itching, preventing him from rubbing against the pool wall and getting injured again.
January 9, 2024: Keepers and volunteers perform their weekly physical examination on Haitang. Haitang has recovered well and can eat and swim independently.
A veterinary nutritionist conceals medicine inside a squid's body to feed Haitang. In the initial stage of treatment, the whale was treated with drugs that reduced inflammation, replenished fluids, protected his liver, fortified his GI tract, and promoted hemostasis.
The veterinary nutritionist feeds squid to Haitang. After five days of treatment, the whale could swim and eat independently in the pool, consuming more than 20 kilograms of seafood daily.
A keeper keeps Haitang company by the care pool. By this point, the whale's health had improved significantly, with his demeanor becoming more relaxed and lively.
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January 8, 2024: A young volunteer visits Haitang at the Haichang Ocean Park Animal Rescue Center in Sanya, Hainan. By January 8, more than 200 people had participated in the whale's rescue.
Divers clean up algae and other debris in Haitang's new, bigger care pool to give him more space to move around. His living space was"upgraded"from the size of a one-bedroom flat to a three-bedroom flat.
January 21, 2024: As Haitang's physical condition improves, keepers and volunteers guide him into the larger outdoor pool for exercise.
A keeper leads the pilot whale Haitang out for a longer swim in the outdoor pool at Sanya's Haichang Ocean Park Animal Rescue Center.
May 25, 2024: Six divers used a net to guide Haitang from the outdoor pool back into the indoor care pool at Sanya's Haichang Ocean Park Animal Rescue Center"in preparation for being released back into the wild.
May 25, 2024: Divers and volunteers work together to guide Haitang onto a transport stretcher in the care pool at the Haichang Ocean Park Rescue Center in Sanya, Hainan.
May 25, 2024: Divers and volunteers grip ropes tightly to keep Haitang balanced as a crane lifts him along a slide rail onto a waiting truck.
Numerous divers and volunteers work together to position Haitang, who measures 3. 7 meters long and weighs more than 500 kilograms, for transport.
With the efforts of all involved, Haitang, who weighs over 500 kilograms and is 3. 7 meters long, is safely transferred into a water tank on the truck that will carry him to the shore. The water tank was specially designed for Haitang and is lined with foam boards and sponge blocks to prevent the whale's internal organs from being compressed during transportation.
As the weather was hot, onboard caregivers used ladles to sprinkle water on Haitang to keep him cool during his transfer to the Sanya Port Authority pier.
May 25, 2024: Workers and volunteers transfer Haitang to the"Liyang 358"research vessel at the Sanya Port Authority pier in preparation for his release back into the wild.
May 25, 2024: the research vessel"Liyang 358"departs from the Sanya Port Authority pier with Haitang aboard. He was released into the wild 70 nautical miles away from Sanya in an area of sea 500 meters deep.
The"Liyang 358"research vessel arrives at a deep-sea area where Haitang can be released at around 6: 00 am on May 26, 2024. Shortly after, the crew aboard released the stranded short-finned pilot whale Haitang back to the sea. This photo shows the moment when Haitang was tipped out from the stretcher into the sea.
Released after 145 days in recovery, Haitang graces the ocean once again.
Photos by Zhang Mao, Wang Chenglong, Hainan Daily.
