Cetaceans Stranded in Taitung's Green Island and Dawu; Coast Guard Rescues One, One Dies

(CNA, by reporter Li Hsien-feng, Taitung, 18th) The Coast Guard Administration's 10th Patrol District Command stated that today, a live cetacean stranded in Shilang, Green Island, and another at the mouth of the Tawa River in Nan-tien, Dawu. Personnel were dispatched for rescue. One, a Blainville's beaked whale, was towed out to sea and released; the other, a Fraser's dolphin, died and was sent to National Cheng Kung University's (NCKU) Cetacean Research Center for necropsy to clarify the cause of death. At around 9 a.m. today, a beaked whale stranded on the shore of the Shilang snorkeling area in Green Island Township, Taitung County. People who discovered it immediately reported it to the Coast Guard and marine conservation authorities, initiating a rescue operation. Shortly after, the Coast Guard received another report of a stranded cetacean in need of rescue at the mouth of the Tawa River in Nan-tien, Dawu Township, Taitung County. The 13th Coastal Patrol Corps of the CGA's Eastern Branch stated that a total of 4 vehicles and 8 personnel were dispatched from the Green Island and Dawu security checkpoints. Upon arrival, they found the cetaceans trapped on the shore. Following standard operating procedures, they used wet towels to cover the animals' bodies and continuously applied seawater for hydration, cooling, and observation of vital signs as part of emergency measures. The stranded cetacean on Green Island's Shilang shore was identified by a professor from NCKU as a Blainville's beaked whale. Subsequently, four security checkpoint personnel, local residents, diving operators, and Green Island Coast Guard volunteers helped move it to the shore. A recreational fishing boat then used a rope and canvas to tow it out to sea, successfully releasing it. The boat will continue to monitor its movements. The stranded cetacean at the Tawa River in Nan-tien was identified by an NCKU professor as a juvenile Fraser's dolphin. However, it died during the rescue process while being prepared for release. The deceased individual will be transported to NCKU's Marine Biology and Cetacean Research Center for necropsy to determine the cause of death. The Ocean Conservation Administration explained that Blainville's beaked whales are rare individuals that primarily inhabit the deep ocean. Taiwan has had very few stranding records in the past. Due to a lack of population data, its IUCN endangered status cannot be assessed and it is currently classified as DD (Data Deficient). Fraser's dolphins mainly inhabit warm and deep (over 1000 meters) oceanic waters. They are often seen near the coast of eastern Taiwan due to the steep drop-off of the surrounding seabed, with a sighting rate of about 20-30% on whale-watching boats in the Hualien-Taitung area. The 13th Coastal Patrol Corps urges the public that if they find a stranded cetacean in the rich wildlife area of Taitung's coast, they should follow the 'Three Dos, Four Don'ts' principle: Do keep it upright, do keep it moist, do record its breathing and heart rate; Don't let it be exposed to wind and sun, don't stand too close to its head or tail, don't push or pull it, and don't make loud noises. They should also call the Coast Guard's '118' service hotline. Coast Guard personnel will quickly arrive to assist in protecting our precious marine and natural ecosystems together. (Editor: Lee Hsi-chang) 1150518