Sjalom.
Terwyl die res van ons elke dag se uitdagings in ons eie lewens trotseer is daar darem nog wonderlike harte tussen ons wat die handskoen ook vir die diertjies om ons opneem.
Bron: http://www.nsri.org.za/2012/07/cape-point-whale-entangled-in-crayfish-ropes-freed/
Gister was nog so 'n dag 'n ent die Bloudam in naby ons lieflike Kaappunt.
Daantjie de Beer, die skipper van Biskop het op die see ongeveer een seemyl die see in oorkant die Hoek van Bobbejaan tussen Scarborough en Kaappunt, 'n jong walvis opgemerk wat in 'n tou met 'n dryfboei aan verstrengel geraak het.
Dadelik het hy die Suid Afrikaanse Walvis Bevryding Vrywilligerskorps van die verstrengeling laat weet.
Die Nasionale See Reddings Instituut by Simonstad (NSRI - werklik groot helde oral en daagliks om ons kus), het dadelik hulle rubbereend genaamd Eddie Beaumont II ter water gelaat en met die vrywillige walvisbevryders saam aan boord na die toneel gevaar om 'n prentjie te kry van die omstandighede.
Daar gekom het Daantjie de Beer-hulle steeds saam met die walvis gewag.
Dit was duidelik dat spesiale toerusting nodig gaan wees om die nege meter lange jonge maar moeë walvismannetjie van sy onnatuurlike gebondenheid te verlos.
Die NSRI by Simonstad het 'n tweede rubbereend genaamd Spirit of Safmarine III met al die nodige toerusting en met nog vrywillige walvisbevryders aanboord ter water gelaat. Die vrywilligers aan boord was Eben Lourens, 'n Wes-Kaapse polisie duiker en David Hurwitz, 'n huurboot-eienaar.
David Hurwitz vertel self die gebeure verder:
“About 20 meters of rope was entangled around the whale, around both tail flutes and looped around to the right pectoral flipper with a small flotation buoy trailing about another meter of rope, constricting the whales movement and causing the whale to be unable to fully extend to its full length, and it was immediately obvious to us that the whale was tired and uncomfortable.
“Once we began the operation, with the the sea rescue boat maneuvering as close to the whale as possible, we made three cuts on the rope at intervals. In the process of making these cuts one of the cutting poles went overboard but was fortunately recovered and then the tip of one of the cutting knives snapped but we managed to continue using the knife.
“After three cuts, at different places along the rope, the rope came completely free and we recovered all of the rope including the flotation buoy and we then also discovered a crayfish ring attached to the rope which had two crayfish inside the ring which was also recovered. (Both crayfish were released back into the sea).
“The operation was made difficult by the rope mostly extending underneath the whale forcing the sea rescue boat, at times, to have to get up and on top of the whale in order for us to reach the rope, but all the while, as we made the progress with the incisions on the rope, the whale was reasonably cooperative!
"Once the rope was cut the whale swam off strongly and fully extending its torso to its full length as it dived and looking completely comfortable in its element.
(Jammer vir die Ingels, maar ek't nie 'n idee gehad hoe vertel 'n mens die vrylating van die krefies in Afrikaans oor nie).
Lees gerus die hele verslag met pragtige prentjies daarmee saam hier.
Ek salueer hierdie wonderlike harte in die NSRI en die Suid Afrikaanse Walvis Bevryding Vrywilligerskorps!
Namaste!
Hindoe-, Moslem-, Joodse, katolieke, Boeddhistiese en Afrikaliefde,
Cornelius Henn