Orca who washed ashore dies: ‘After a short torment, I slept on the shore’

On Saturday evening, the animal was sprayed by firefighters on the beach in hopes that it could save the animal after all. But the chance was that the orca succeeded in the morning, it was said at the time, that shortly before midnight, screens were set up around the marine mammals and a vet arrived at the site. Shortly thereafter, the orca died.

But on Saturday evening it turned out that it was just a marine mammal. Marga Fermo, Mayor of Sluis, confirms this. “The animal, more than 5 meters long, was already stranded in the afternoon and was pushed back into the sea by a combined force, but was later washed ashore again. It does not look good.”

According to SOS Dolfijn, it is about an animal with a size of about 5.5 meters. Orcas are the largest of dolphins and can grow “up to 9 meters in length,” according to SOS Dolfijn.

KNRM previously reported two orcas that washed ashore, one of which would have gone into the open sea under its own power, but it is unclear if this animal was only seen off the coast or if this second animal actually ended up on shore.

In addition to the rescue organizations, the mayor of the municipality of Sluis, which includes Cadzand, Marga Vermue, was also present on the beach.

The colossal statue is located near the Hôtel de Blanke Top on the boulevard, in the center of the village of Cadzand, part of the Sluis. Saturday evening there were still dozens of spectators.

However, the rescue services did everything they could to try to save the orca. “With four men, we pushed the orca back into the water with our hands,” says Jacco Nortier, leader of the Royal Dutch Rescue Association (KNRM). Unfortunately, the animal washed ashore again.

The chance of an orca appearing on the Dutch or Belgian coast is extremely small. He said it was very rare for them to wash up on the beach alive.

Orcas are large marine mammals with a pronounced dorsal fin. Most of the animals are black in color, with a pale belly and a white spot on their head. The average length of adult males reaches 8 meters, while the length of female killer whales reaches 6.5 meters. Orcas live in almost all major oceans, both in tropical and cold waters. Animals are never found on the coast of the North Sea, so spotting them there is very exceptional.

whale protocol

In the event of strandings of large cetaceans, the guideline on large cetacean slings comes into effect. Popularly known as “whale protocol”. Then the experts come together to see how they can save the animal. In this case, this is no longer possible.

The orca will now be taken away for scientific research.

Orca in the Seine

Orcas are large marine mammals with a pronounced dorsal fin. Most of the animals are black in color, with a pale belly and a white spot on their head. The average length of adult males reaches 8 meters, while the length of female killer whales reaches 6.5 meters. Orcas live in almost all major oceans, both in tropical and cold waters. Animals are never found on the coast of the North Sea, so spotting them there is very exceptional.

In May this year, a orca on the Seine in Paris. The animal was found to have a fungal infection. Treatment is rarely possible in such a case. In fact, all you can do is give medications to relieve stress and relieve pain. Kelly Morrow says: