Two UF veterinarians took part in a rescue mission on March 6 in order to free an endangered species of whale from about 1,000 feet of fishing line.
Dr. Michael Walsh, an aquatic veterinarian, and Dr. James Bailey, a veterinary anesthesiologist, helped make up the team of experts whose mission was to free right whale No. EG3311, which was first spotted in January.
Walsh said the whale had its left eye and shoulder entangled in fishing net as well as its mouth, which prevented it from eating. The assembled team to help free the whale was made up of veterinarians and employees from national agencies.
"It was a huge team and coordinated a bunch of very capable organizations that worked together and came up with a plan," Bailey said.
Because of the right whales' evasive nature, Bailey said sedation had to be used to free it from the netting, with caution so as to not drown the whale.
"We had to create a cocktail to make the whale cooperative but still do what a whale needs to do, which is surface and breath," he said.
The team made many attempts to sedate the whale before a strong enough mixture of sedatives was created and executed.
Walsh said trips were made in January and February before the final effort on March 6, and said the team was worried time was running out.
"Everyone knew that (final) trip needed to be successful," he said. "If we weren't, it wouldn't have been able to survive much longer."
Walsh said the team traveled on four boats to the area where the whale was swimming in order to sedate it. After the dart, about 2 feet long , was fired successfully, the team was able to cut about 400 feet of line off in about 45 minutes.
