How Valentina was saved!!!
Humpback whales are one of the most magnificent creatures of the deep blue sea. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, they are now labelled an endangered species.
Usually found both in the open ocean and shallow coastline waters… unfortunately the ocean is not big enough for whales to humpback whale is found trapped in fishing ropes set up by local fishermen. reports have shown many whales of all species, suffer from fishing gear entanglement. Unfortunately, not all of these whales are saved, and nearly half of all stranding death is due to entanglement.
Occasionally, the trapped whale would be spotted by local fishermen, whom will call in for help to release the entrapped whale. One such fortunate and well known incident was way back in 2005 when a young Humpback whale was freed by divers from a tangle of crab lines near the Farallon Islands.
The 45 foot female humpback with an estimated weight of 50 tons was found entangled in the nylon ropes that link crab pots by a fishermen. The call for help arrived several hours later.
When the rescuers assessed the situation, they found 20 crab-pot ropes, which are 240 feet long with weights every 60 feet, were wrapped around the animal’s tail, back, left front flipper and in the mouth. The lines were wrapped so tight that the rope was digging into the animal’s blubber, leaving visible cuts.
At least 12 crab traps, weighing 90 pounds each hung off the whale, pulling it downward, forcing the whale to struggle just to keep its blow-hole out of the water.
After evaluating the situation, the rescue team realized the only way to save the whale was to dive into the water and cut the ropes. However, diving into the water to free the frightened whale is extremely dangerous, as a single tail flip can kill a man. Despite the great risk, 4 divers spent an hour cutting the ropes with a special curved knife.
When the whale realized it was free, it began swimming around in circles, according to the rescuers. One diver said it swam to each diver, nuzzled him and then swam to the next one, as if thanking the divers individually.
The divers said they never felt threatened, and felt it was an amazing, unbelievable experience.
On a more recent date, another whale rescue was made by Michael Fishback, the co-founder of The Great Whale Conservancy, while he was boating with his family in the Sea of Cortez. The family spent over an hour to free the trapped whale. When the whale was free, it spent the next one hour showing its joy and gratitude, displaying at least 40 spectacular breaches to its rescuers.
Both man and animal displayed great appreciation for life. One, diving into unsafe water irregardless of safety to save a life, while the other showing sincere gratitude. Watch the video below, it was recorded by the Fishbacks on their attempt to save a trapped Humpback whale.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Humpback-Whale-Shows-AMAZING-Appreciation-After-Being-Freed.flv
All beings whether in animal or human realms appreciate their lives ,existence and comfort. People who think animals exist purely for our pleasure and as humans we can do whatever we like to them as animals have no feelings are obviously deluded.
We all have been animals before in this endless samsara, if we keep on harming or torturing animals soon it will be our turn to be animals under the control of humans.
IT is said that the humpback presence is an indicative of a rich and productive marine system and pasture, and is one of the most obvious inhabitants of the rich oceans around New Foundland and Labrador coast. HUMPBACKS are known to feed on “Capelin”, its most popular food item in season. Normally, one can see Humpbacks returning to New Foundland and Labrador year after year for feeding season in June, bringing their young ones. Every year uncountable billions of capelins shrimp-like creatures attract the largest gatherings of Humpbacks at these rich oceans from New Foundland and Labrador coasts. In the blog where Valentina was saved, the grateful Humpback was shown endlessly showing her gratitude with multiples of tail-slaps’ salutes and jumping up and down for pure joy of its new found freedom, as if to say “thank-you for saving my life. She acted almost like human.
After escaped from trap the whale was so so happy. It like human, have feeling and knew what is suffering and scared going to dead. And it also knew how to appreciate who help it escaped from dangerous. I think it feel touched and moved because someone want to help but not harm…i think.
The animal has feeling like human, if you not believe, please watch this video then you will have same feeling like me!
It must have been very frightening knowing that the whale could crush you at any moment. But clearly all the motivation and effort was worth it. They applied every approach to free the whale. How can one think about dragging part of the net up to the boat in such a way, cutting, and in the end it works out perfectly? They were truly committed. So maybe as a result all the approaches came, without shying away or waiting for outside help. I watched this video earlier today and it was very moving. Not sure what the whale was thinking but he/she seemed very accepting of the people helping, patient, and very happy to be freed.
Even the whale knows how to to show gratitude to another beings who have spent time and energy to save its life. Is time for us to recall and show gratitude to those who have helped us in the past.
thanks Rinpoche for sharing this video. It gives me a relief feeling when seeing the joy of the saviour and the saved.
This is such a lovely story of love and compassion.Throughout the whole rescue operation, the camera has captured a powerful exchange of love between man and whale.
I love the great force of love that came from Michael and family that propelled them on to save and free Valentina. This force was so great that it set aside fears of endangering their own lives in this very risky and delicate operation to free the young whale.So much patience and tireless work went into the whole operation and all of this stemmed from an unending flow of compassion from the hearts of the rescuers.
And when the whale was freed, how much joy there was in the air when Valentina did her dance of joy and gratitude!
Thank you Rinpoche for the blog.
Despite the danger of being killed/hurt by the whale, the family continued to help free the whale. Full of love and compassion. they helped for an hour trying to free the whale eventhough they were tired. So glad that the whale is ok now.
Thank you for the teams to rescue Humpback whale. They tried all the way and taking a risk to safe a life. I salute!
Wonderful! The Humpback whale know how to appreciate the rescuers and showed the happiness to all.
Thank you Rinpoche for this blog.
These people are very kind and very concerned about animals. I am very glad that the fish Valentina was saved.