Whale Rescued 10 Years Ago is Seen Alive Again

Photo courtesy: Photo: Katya Kroch / IBJ via TreeHugger.com

All too often, I find myself blogging about environmental issues that carry a great deal of worry and stress surrounding them. Finally, an uplifting issue that should lighten any "earth muffin's" mind. I know it inspires me to keep fighting in my tiny little corner of the world.

One morning in November 2000, a large humpback whale was found stranded on a beach near Ubatuba, Brazil, clinging to life in the crashing surf. It didn't take long before a team was assembled of nearly one hundred fishermen, firefighters, biologists, and locals who began working tirelessly to return the struggling animal back to sea -- and after twelve long hours, they were successful. Still, as that whale slipped beneath the waves and out of sight, those volunteers could only hope their efforts were not in vain, knowing full well that the whale's chances of survival were slim. But now, after ten years of guessing, rescuers are finally sure the whale is alive and well -- because they've seen it.Sadly, beached whales have become an all too common sight in Brazil; this year alone, 95 animals have been discovered, only one of which was returned to the sea alive. For the rescuers who inevitably arrive to give beached whales a fighting chance, the work is daunting and the outcomes uncertain at best -- but for the first time ever, it has been discovered that their efforts can pay off.

The beached humpback whale in 2000, before being rescued. (Photo: Hugo Gallo/Aquário de Ubatuba)via TreeHugger.com

In 2008, biologists doing researcher in the waters off Brazil spotted a large, healthy-looking humpback whale with coloring that was startlingly similar to the one they'd rescued from the beach eight years earlier. To confirm this unlikely reunion, skin samples were collected and compared to those taken from the stranded animal in 2000. Now, after genetic analysis, it has finally been confirmed to be the same whale.

Never before has a rescued whale been re-encountered after so long at sea -- and the news is giving hope to those who continue to devote their time to saving beached whales.

"The confirmation of the survival of this animal for a least eight years after its stranding shows that, despite the low chances of survival, it is worth every effort to save the whales," veterinarian Milton Marcondes told Brazilian media.

The odds that a whale will survive after beaching, however, are still quite slim. Of the hundreds of whales that have become stranded over the years, only three large humpbacks were returned to the ocean alive -- and even then, it isn't known whether they survive for long or not.

In the past, some have questioned if efforts to save beached whales were worth the trouble, believing that the animals were sick or injured and would likely die in either case. But for the biologists and volunteers who struggle in the surf to rescue those majestic creatures in desperate need of a helping hand, the slightest chance of success is always worth their sweat, and often, tears.

And with a fleeting glimpse of one such rescued whale, swimming alive and free against the current and against the odds -- they can carry on knowing that they do not toil in vain.

Beauty Products Kill Marine Life

Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
Plastic factors into beachings at least 50 percent of the time. Rescue workers were unable to save this whale near Tokyo.

While beauty products may be good(?) for humans; they are plastic death for marine mammals. The question one might be asking is: How can something I use in the privacy of my own bathroom harm sea animals on the other side of the earth?

Most people cannot afford pricey specialized spa treatments and usually buy a tube of exfoliating facial scrub for a do-it-yourselfer at home. These facial scrubs contain rough particles specifically for the purpose of removing dead cells on the surface layer of skin when rubbed vigorously onto the face. The intent is to remove the old, dead, gray cells causing healthier, newer cells to be exposed for a younger, glowing look.

While a facial scrub is an effective technique, experts are split regarding the overall benefits of a “scrubbing” cream. No one has ever scrubbed anything clean with a feather; so, it stands to reason that these particles will have rough surfaces (sea salt, crushed almond shells) in order to grab and remove the dead cells. Unfortunately, there is some evidence they also are capable of scratching the skin underneath. Synthetic (plastic) “microscubbers” are gaining in popularity lately because they can be molded into perfectly round, little spheres that are unlikely to scratch the skin’s underlying layers making them seem more user-friendly.

Now on to the problem. How can my microscrubbers be resposible for a whale beaching in Tokyo?

When garbage makes its way into the ocean – whether it comes from cruise ships, tributaries, sewage systems, air currents – eventually it ends up in the garbage vortex in the Pacific Ocean. (See Jan.7/09 blog) This floating garbage dump is twice the size of Texas and approximately 3.5 ton (3.17 metric ton) in weight. It has been determined that 80% of this is plastic; including the tiny synthetic microbeads we’ve flushed down the sink after our facial scrub. Nice, glowing skin for us – death for sea life.

We all know about the hazards of plastic bags, plastic six-pack rings and other plastic hazards harming or killing sea life; but, some facial cleansers must now be added to the list.

These plastic microbeads are so small (approx. the size of one grain of sand) they don’t always get filtered out of the water system before the water makes it back to the ocean. Small sea life like mussels, clams, and crustaceans mistake them for plankton and feast on them. These creatures are now loaded with plastics which they pass up the food chain to larger fish, otters, octopi and whales.

A connection has now been made between ingested plastic and beached whales. Whales, like every other marine animal, cannot digest plastic so it ends up in their tissues and stops them from functioning properly. A researcher at Aberdeen University who studies beached whales says plastic is a contributing factor in beaching at least 50% of the time.

Check your facial scrub labels for organic ingredients only. Many big-name brands use the plastic microbeads for scrubbers. These include Olay, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Clean & Clear and Dove among others.

Biodegradable exfoliants include crushed nut shells, sea salt, sugar, ground bark and sand. Avalon Organics, St. Ives, Burt’s Bees and Freeman are a few of the brands that still use the organic, biodegradable materials for scrubbers. Personally, I am a slave to Burt’s Bees and Freeman.

If you chose to stop using a facial scrubber because of the plastic microbeads, a letter to the company explaining your choice would go a long way to help making our oceans plastic-free.