Global News - August 2008

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Abandoned whale calf put to sleep

Fri 22 August 2008 17:00 UK — Australasia

A whale calf that bonded with a yacht after being abandoned by its mother has been euthanised today (August 22nd).

The humpback whale, nicknamed "Colin", had spent the last few days trying to suckle a yacht in Sydney harbour before rangers took the decision to destroy the creature with an overdose of anaesthetic.

The two-tonne calf was discovered over the weekend in Sydney's Pittwater Bay off the coast of eastern Australia and had suffered from shark bites and breathing difficulties during its ordeal.

Sally Barnes, state parks service chief, told Australian radio: "Everyone is very connected to this animal and it is a very emotional decision.

"I've taken the decision that I don't want to prolong the agony of this animal."

A vet's report on Thursday showed that the calf was only between two and three weeks old.

Wildlife experts had used the yacht to draw the calf out to sea on Monday in the hope it would join up with other whales, before it returned on Tuesday.

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