Rescuers Free Beached Whale in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 12 August, 2004 [AP] - Rescuers succeeded in
freeing a minke whale that washed up on a beach in southeastern
Brazil, the fire department said Thursday.

It was the second time this week that a whale washed up on a beach in
Rio de Janeiro state. On Tuesday a beached humpback died after
rescuers struggled for three days to save it.

The minke whale swam up to shore at Praia dos Osso Wednesday at the
popular Buzios beach resort, 93 miles east of Rio de Janeiro.

The whale remained in the shallow water and approached the sand
several times in an apparent attempt to beach himself, said Maj.
Ramiro of the Cabo Frio fire department.

The whale was surrounded by dolphins and appeared disoriented, Ramiro
said.

On Wednesday, rescuers from the fire department's marine rescue unit
managed to tow the whale, which measured about 20 feet, out to the
high seas.

The humpback whale that died, a young male measuring about 33 feet and
weighing about 10 tons, washed up on Jurujuba beach just across Rio de
Janeiro at the entrance to Guanabara Bay on Sunday morning. Biologists
said they believed the whale had become tired while swimming north
into the tropical waters where the whales typically reproduce.

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