WDCS has been assisting others including the Scottish SPCA, BDMLR and various local organisations in a bid to persuade a northern bottlenose whale out of a shallow Scottish loch far from the sea. The animal was first spotted in Loch Eil at the beginning of October and, following the use of innovative techniques provide by the Sea Mammal Research Unit to move the whale using sound recordings, hopes were raised on Sunday when the animal seemingly responded to the noises being played to it and swam into the deeper waters of neighboring Loch Linnhe, and nearer to the sea.
As yet, it is unclear if it was the recordings of the bottlenose whale’s natural predator, the orca, or man-made noises that encouraged the whale to move, but it does seem that the technique was successful. All the groups involved with the rescue exercise are keen to point out that there are no guarantees that the whale will return to the sea, but efforts will continue to try to help the whale to safety.
The reasons for concern about this animal relate to the fact that this species is normally found in the deep seas, and is likely to be unable to feed in shallow waters. Curiously, at almost exactly the same date last year, another bottlenose whale was found in Loch Eil and this animal ultimately died. The configuration of the Lochs here may form something of a whale trap, with narrow and shallow sections inhibiting any whales that enter these waters from leaving.
The whale continues to be monitored and the latest news is that it is still present in the deeper outer loch.