Press

At 10:20h on the 10th of May, the MarPro/Cram-Q team was activated due to a live cetacean stranded in the "Praia do Navio" beach (Santa Cruz).

The team moved quickly to the location of the stranding, however, the cetacean had already been returned to the sea before the team managed to contact the people on site. During the 160km ride, it was possible to contact people on the stranding site, and it was confirmed that the animal was a pigmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) that had stranded alive, and after refloating, was struggling to swim near the surf. Still during the trip the team was informed that the animal was already dead, floating in the sea.

At the beach, the animal was taken to shore with the help of Mr Manuel Nascimento, placed in the emergency vehicle acquired by the LIFE+ MarPro project and transported to the Cram-Q (Marine Animals Rehabilitation Center of Quiaios) where a necropsy was performed. The necropsy revealed that the animal had died by drowning, and it also showed various alterations in the internal organs, indicators of disease.

Live cetacean strandings typically involve sick animals in need of specialised care. Before trying to return them to the sea, it is mandatory that the Marine Mammals Support Network is contacted (968 849 101), in order to activate the rescue team so that you may receive assistance and counselling on how to act in these situations.

The team wishes to acknowledge everyone involved in the rescue and collection of this animal. Even though it did not survive, is collection and analysis will allow the gathering of important information on this species, seldom seen in Portuguese waters.