A critically injured baby whale got a dose of medicine from marine mammal experts
When a critically endangered whale calf was hit and injured by a boat, a team of biologists from across the nation came together to lend a helping hand.
On Monday, a team of mammal experts were monitoring a seriously injured North Atlantic right whale calf, about a week old, off the east coast of Florida. The calf was one of four born to a population of whales that numbers less than 430, SeaWorld said in a release.
One of the calf’s injuries included damage to its mouth, which could hamper nursing and eating, SeaWorld said.
Veterinarians from SeaWorld, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation teamed up to help the calf.
The plan was to find the mother and calf, take pictures of the injuries and deliver antibiotics, if needed.
On Wednesday afternoon, the team found the mother and her injured calf off Fernandina Beach in northern Florida. Biologists didn’t want to get too close until verifying this was the mom/calf pair.
Once biologists took aerial pictures to confirm it was the injured calf, they determined antibiotics would help the calf.
The team was able to remotely administer the drugs, which may stave off infection. Now, biologists will wait and watch the calf to see whether it will get better. The calf is still in poor condition.
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
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