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Coinciding with the annual Humpback Whale migration period, the Gold Coast theme park Sea World team has conducted whale stranding exercises as part of ongoing specialist rescue training.

The training simulated a beach stranding with the team covering various training techniques on a purpose-built training whale including conducting health and wellbeing checks, correct use of equipment and how to attach a specially designed towing harness.

Sea World Head of Marine Sciences, Wayne Phillips said these training exercises are vital to ensure rescue teams are equipped and prepared for whale strandings and entanglements.

Phillips advises “our teams have already responded to several whales in distress this season and this training is critical to ensure a safe outcome for all involved.

“These whale rescue efforts are incredibly dangerous as we are dealing with 25-30 tonne animals and at the mercy of sea conditions, so it is important they are left to those who have had the appropriate training.

“Today’s training scenario was tailored to a beach stranding and the team reviewed the equipment and identified the safest method of application, conducted practical situations and scenarios and looked at other methods and ideas which could be implemented for future strandings.

“In addition to today’s stranding training, we have also recently conducted disentanglement training which involved taking the training whale out to sea and practicing approaching, grappling and using the cutting equipment from our rescue vessels to assist a whale which may be entangled in fishing gear, shark control programs or netting and buoys.

Phillips adds “sadly, we are seeing an increase in whales becoming entangled in commercial fishing gear. These are some of the trickier operations as it is challenging to locate the animal to attempt the disentanglement operation as they remain mobile, so we thank the community and wildlife groups who remain on the lookout and alert us of these situations.

“With more than 35,000 whales travelling past the Gold Coast on their annual migration journey, it is great to practice these exercises and provide a refresh for our team who will remain on standby for when an animal requires our assistance.”

The Sea World Rescue Team are on call 24 hours every day, 365 days a year should a marine animal need rescuing. 

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