1 | THE delicate task of guiding | manage to move them.” Alex | 9 | Mike Lynch of the SSPCA | ||||||
five sperm whales1) back to | Simpson, a marine biologist | said: “The danger is that | ||||||||
the open sea from the | at the Orkney Department of | whales fall asleep on the | ||||||||
shallow waters of Scapa | Harbours, said. “It’s difficult | surface of the water. If there | ||||||||
Flow is expected to go | to predict whether the same | were a collision between a | ||||||||
ahead within days. | method would work again.” | sleeping whale and a boat | ||||||||
2 | The whales, which are | 6 | The rescue operation will | there would be considerable | ||||||
thought to have trailed a | have to be handled with | damage to both parties.” | ||||||||
tanker into the natural | care to prevent the whales | 10 | “As far as we can tell they | |||||||
harbour on Tuesday, are | becoming agitated and | seem quite happy,” said Mr | ||||||||
being monitored for signs of | swimming in the wrong | Simpson, “they are moving | ||||||||
injury or distress by Orkney | direction towards the shore. | about as a group, swimming | ||||||||
Harbour Authority and the | They will have to be coaxed | on the surface.” | ||||||||
Scottish Society for the | through one of the two exits | 11 | At sea, sperm whales eat | |||||||
Prevention of Cruelty to | from Scapa Flow - Hoxa | approximately one ton of fish | ||||||||
Animals (SSPCA). | Sound and Hoy Sound - | and deep-sea squid each | ||||||||
3 | Yesterday the five young | both about 1½ miles wide | day. Pickings in Scapa Flow | |||||||
males, ranging in length from | with fast-flowing tidal | will be more meagre. | ||||||||
30ft to 60ft, lolled around in | waters. | Although they can survive for | ||||||||
the water showing no signs of | 7 | The whales, which weigh | up to four weeks on their thick | |||||||
trying to escape. However, it | up to 50 tons, were first | layers of blubber, they will | ||||||||
is feared they may soon | spotted by a group of divers | soon grow weak without | ||||||||
become hungry, panic, and | examining the remains of | proper sustenance. | ||||||||
beach themselves. | the German fleets scuttled in | 12 | “When they start to | |||||||
4 | In 1993, when six sperm | Scapa Flow in both world | weaken there is a chance | |||||||
whales became stranded in | wars. | they will starve,” Mr Lynch | ||||||||
Scapa Flow, they were lured | 8 | A warning to all shipping | said. “Then they will become | |||||||
to safety by the seductive | in the area was issued and | distressed and beach | ||||||||
calls of females played | reminders are being | themselves. That is why we | ||||||||
underwater. It is thought that | broadcast daily on Radio | have to take the opportunity | ||||||||
a similar ploy will be used this | Orkney. Scapa Flow is a busy | to rescue them while we can. | ||||||||
time. | thoroughfare, used by ferries | It won’t be easy but it is a | ||||||||
5 | “It’s crucial first to | sailing between Mainland and | chance worth taking.” | |||||||
understand the behaviour of | outlying islands, and pilot | |||||||||
the animals and then to | boats taking crews to oil | The Times | ||||||||
formulate a plan that might | tankers in the North Sea. |