Pilot whale pod shepherded out of Tryphena in daylight

Sunday 12^th November, 2006

11am first saw pod off Puriri Bay, coastguard turned up shortly after. Much whacking of tails, tightly bunched, about 30 animals, a few young ones.

A local resident went diving with them from his boat while they were in Puriri Bay.

About 3pm boarded  ‘Scarlet O’Hara’, (twin-engined outboards - owner Kim Watts) and shepherded them out between us and a rubber ducky, powered by small outboard motor, with two Department of Conservation (DoC) workers Joanne O’Reilly and Halema Jamieson aboard, until 5km off Schooner Bay and they were headed about 220 True (WSW) away from the island, or in other words, it was a course roughly at right-angles to the general lay of the coast of Gt Barrier from which they had just come. 

At one point earlier on, we were joined by another boat coming up between the rubber ducky and the Scarlet O'Hara, when they became agitated and began 'spy-hopping'- the photo on the right shows one animal spy-hopping. Later found the other boat had sounder going at the time.

Sea conditions:  light winds and minor chop. Sunny.

Returned in daylight. Operation successful.

 

Great Barrier Island Coastguard Rescue Vessel responding to concern about possible stranding of Pilot Whales - Off Puriri Bay, Tryphena Harbour. (Photo- D.Armitage).

 

 

 

Kim Watts, (Scarlet O'Hara), Joanne O'Reilly & Halema Jamieson (seated). Tryphena Harbour in background.  (Photo D. Armitage)

 

 

 

Glasshouse Point looking south. (Photo D.Armitage)