
Macquarie University wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta said the drone footage could suggest the whales had become disoriented, although she said the exact reasons for mass strandings remain unclear. Pilot whales are highly social animals and often maintain close relationships with their pods throughout their lives. Wildlife experts said the unusual behavior of the whales could be an indicator of stress or illness within the pod. “We’ve never seen anything quite like this.” “This is just an amazing event,” Joanne Marsh, the owner the Cheynes Beach Caravan Park told the ABC. Hundreds of volunteers also offered to help - so many that officials said they had enough registered volunteers and urged other members of the public to stay away from the beach.ĭrone footage released by the department showed the whales clustering and forming into a heart shape before stranding themselves on the beach. They have been using specialized equipment, including vessels and slings. The team tasked with helping the whales includes Perth Zoo veterinarians and marine fauna experts. “We are optimistic that we will save as many as we can,” Hartley said. that the volunteers were trying to get the living whales back into the water and encourage them to swim away. Peter Hartley, a manager from the department, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Western Australia state’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions set up an overnight camp to monitor the whales. “People are committed to doing what they can to save as many whales as they can,” Whitby said. “It’s just a terrible, terrible tragedy to see these dead pilot whales on the beach.”įifty-two whales had perished, and volunteers are doing what they can to try and save 45 still alive, he said. “What we’re seeing is utterly heartbreaking and distressing,” he told reporters. Reece Whitby, Western Australia’s environment minister, said it was particularly frustrating because it’s not known why the phenomenon occurs. By 4 p.m., a large stretch of the shoreline was covered in beached whales. As the day progressed, the pod began moving closer to the beach, sparking the concern of conservation officers. They were first spotted swimming Tuesday morning near Cheynes Beach east of Albany. Nearly 100 long-finned pilot whales, stranded themselves Tuesday on the beach by the city of Albany, on the southern tip of Western Australia, south of Perth. A graveside ceremony will be planned for the spring of 2022.Īrrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, Maine 04976.Volunteers worked frantically on a second day Wednesday to save dozens of pilot whales that have stranded themselves on a beach in Western Australia, but more than 50 have already died. Per his wishes, there will be no services at this time. Timothy Webb for their caring and compassion, especially during John’s final days. The family would like to thank MaineGeneral Hospice and Home Care and Dr. Kenneth and an infant brother, sisters Berlene, Annie and Lenora and his very special dog, Benji. John was predeceased by a son Jeffrey, his parents, brothers Blynn, Thomas, He is survived by his wife Jane, sons John Jr, Jimmie and Jerry and his wife Angela, brothers Garey and Lawrence (Christine), sisters Thelma O’Neal, Leatrice (Roger) Grevois and Charlene (Paul) Houle, brother-in-law Robert Knowles, grandson Eric Bickford as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. John, along with his wife Jane spent over 30 summers as “seasonals” at Happy Horseshoe Campground in Lexington, where they enjoyed the company of many friends and family.
MORNING SENTINEL OBITUARIES DRIVER
He was also a bus driver for RSU 18 and later worked as a service technician for Maine X-Ray. He was a carpenter most of his life, working all over the State of Maine, as well as building his own home, which he lived in for the past 50 years. He attended Oakland schools and served in the U.S. 24, 1938, the son of Harry and Velma (Thomas) Bickford, the tenth of 13 children. Bickford Sr., 83 passed away peacefully at his home on Nov.
