Calay News
On a Monday in 2019, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the headquarters of the Naval Prefecture in Mar de Plata received a call from a concerned neighbor alerting them to the presence of stranded orcas on a beach in Mar Chiquita. They asked the informant to send a photo via WhatsApp, which showed seven stranded animals. Rescue teams were immediately activated, including personnel from the Fundación Fauna Argentina, the Aquarium Mar del Plata, and Mundo Marino, as well as firefighters, lifeguards, and volunteers who joined the operation.
The rescue involved more than 200 people and required the mobilization of all units and boats to the La Caleta resort in Mar Chiquita, some 25 kilometers away. The experts confirmed that it was a male and three adult females (one of them already deceased) along with three juveniles, presumably members of the same family since killer whales move in groups. With great care, using special ropes and lingas, they moved the animals towards the sea.
The process was delicate and took about four hours, but they finally managed to reintroduce six of the stranded orcas to the sea. During the operation, they had to make a groove in front of each animal to facilitate their return to the water, and they took advantage of the high tide to expedite the rescue, preventing them from being stranded all night.
Rescuers were attentive to the moistness of the killer whales’ skin due to the weather and their proximity to the coast. Although they used hoses to hydrate them, they were careful not to overhydrate them in view of the hostile temperatures. The situation was urgent since, out of the water, the weight of the killer whales could damage their organs and cause cramps.
Although the exact reason for their stranding was not known, specialists considered the possibility that an ear parasite could have disoriented them. Necropsy results were still awaited to learn more about the deceased orca and determine if it had any underlying disease or if stranding was the cause of death.
The Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Nation reminded citizens of the importance of not intervening on their own initiative in these cases since, without knowledge and adequate equipment, the animals could be unintentionally hurt. The possibility of the transmission of diseases to humans was also highlighted if adequate sanitary safeguards were not taken.
