Rescuers to scoop whale from harbour

PHOTO: The 14-metre long whale became stranded near sharp rocks at Temma Harbour yesterday (Audience submitted)

Rescuers will try and scoop a sperm whale out of a harbour on Tasmania's north-west coast this afternoon.

The 14-metre long whale became stranded near sharp rocks at Temma Harbour yesterday, but has since been guided to a safer, sandy area.

Rescuer Chris Arthur says the animal appears to be healthy, but whale rescues are always touch and go.

"The animal's breathing quite regularly and doesn't seem to be under a huge amount of stress," he said.

"But as we did a week ago, we worked with an animal all day and then at the end of the day it just gave up the gust and just died, so we just have to give the animal as much chance as we can."

Mr Arthur says weather conditions outside the harbour are not ideal with wet and windy conditions hindering the rescue.

"It's west, south-westerly weather. It's dark, quite overcast, showers and quite strong winds," he said.

Last month 26 whales died when they beached themselves at two different locations near Strahan, about 130 kilometres south of Temma.

Two whales were freed during that beaching and rescuers say those techniques may have to be used again.

Topics: mammals---whales, science-and-technology, tas, australia

First posted December 04, 2011 16:49:34