The whale

[Miss Understood]

Only place I can think of putting this. I've been following the story of that poor whale that made its way up river in the Thames.

I see this evening the poor thing died - probably because of stress.

Maybe all those people lining the banks of the river, and the media helicopters, and the boats etc. just stressed it out too much. Maybe, humanity was, for this last day or so, that whale's NFH.

I shall light a candle for it.

MU in deeply philosophical mode just at this moment.

[Beth]

not wanting to be a pessimist, but Terry Nutkin did say leave it be or it will die, and he is an expert in that field :(

poor thing.

I also couldnt help feeling the whole thing was a little ironic..... suddenly (according to the news) everyone around the world was rooting for the whale, yet Japan are still whale hunting etc :rant:

animal intrest stories always work a lot better when its an individual animal rather than just "animals" in general :(

[Eeyore]

I've been following the story and was so upset to hear that it went up the Thames in the first place, it must have been unwell to do this :(

Was very upset when it died, poor thing

Let's hope it's plight brings a greater awareness of inhumane treatment of animals worldwide

[Lady Penelope]

:cry: Very sad story indeed.

[SP1]

Yes, a sad story indeed, especially as it was very close to getting back out to sea at the time when it died. Apparently it's death was brought about due to it being out of water, they cannot cope with supporting their own body weight out of water for long periods, their lungs collapse and other such related things, sad.

I am sure there must be better ways of transporting a whale rather than on the barge, why not not towed alongside the barge so it's part submerged and thus not holding it's own weight and causing it problems etc, I mean it was not the largest of whales was it, perhaps even in a large tank of water on the barge (I know it was at short notice, but this has been monitored since 1913), just wondering out loud.

[Annabel]

:cry: this has really upset me, and I think like you , SP1, Beth and MU...it should have been left well alone...fancy putting the poor thing on a barge! :angry:

[mazza]

:sad: I agree, it makes no sense to me as a lay person that they took it out of the water...and allowed countless divers to go near to it, touch it etc. Terry Nutkins was so right. But eminent marine biologists etc stated that the vets did everything they could, supposedly :cry: .

The prognosis for any whale in that situation is always poor, but I too can't help feeling 'human kindness' hastened it to succumb in the end.

Poor thing, bless.

[sp54]

The sp54 household was following the progress of the whale too. We were really pleased when it seemed to be on its way back home to the open sea, but then heard it had died. So, so sad, but it did bring out the kind nature in people - well meaning if not well thought through failed rescue

[tortoise]

Poor whale. :(

I only hope it wasn't too distressed towards the end - though I have my doubts. :cry: