Northland locals help rescue beached whale

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Wed, 26 May 2010 9:10a.m.

It is the second time Putita has stranded himself in 11 years

It is the second time Putita has stranded himself in 11 years

A group of locals helped refloat a 25-year-old killer whale that had beached itself at Ruakaka in Northland yesterday afternoon.

It is the second time Putita has beached himself in 11 years. Volunteer surfers and DOC workers, directed by orca expert Dr Ingrid Visser, worked to push Putita back out to shore, while his distressed mother and brother swam back and forther across the shore.

Putita was finally returned to his pod around 2.30pm - half an hour after his stranding.

Footage shot by Nicolas Brikke

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29 May 2010 06:04a.m.

Chris on Haida Gwaii wrote:

Nicely done! A couple of years back the people of our community rescued a beached humpback, and the similarities in the final moments as the whale surged back to sea are truly remarkable. I feel a real connection to these people... from North Beach Haida Gwaii to Northland New Zealand. One ocean, and a world of compassion. If you are interested, here's some video of our whale rescue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MIGCsPaQ1M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF1I7hJ2rBM It's little acts like this that make me hope we can one day make peace with these remarkable animals and try in some small way to atone for what our race has done to them.

26 May 2010 11:59p.m.

Helena and Francois Brikke wrote:

BRAVO to ALL PUTITA RESCUERS, not in the least to those who filmed the whole FREE PUTITA operation: Nicolas (film director, SEWN project): brilliant! You were on the right spot at the right time with the right camera, with the right company of people!THANKS in the name of all of us for saving a fabulously impressive, sensitive and endangered marine animal . Keep on filming scenes like this one to show the rest of the world the BEAUTY of the beasts! ly

26 May 2010 07:33p.m.

Gary wrote:

Hello just saw your rescue on CLOSE UP it was amazing watching the 3x orcas together and the one stranded being so calm towards you rescurers This was something for people to treasure especially you who rescured him How can people be so cruel to a magnificant animal Thanks for sharing your achievements with the rest of us SUCH A BRILLIANT FILM CLIP which should be kept for generations to see how man and animal can be as one WELL DONE TO ALL CONCERNED