Navy rescues injured whale

Naval personnel attached to SLNS Vijaya in the North-Western Naval Area took timely action to save the life of an injured whale, which had washed ashore on the Vella beach in Kalpitiya on Friday. In a mammoth effort which took seven hours, they managed to assist the 38-foot Fin Whale to swim back to deep waters off the Dutch Bay after freeing it from the fishing net which had hindered its free movement.

The whale had been first sighted by Naval personnel deployed on coastal protection. It had been struggling in shallow waters with injuries to its fin and abdomen areas. Alerted Naval personnel rushed in and pumped water, helping it to breathe and guiding it to refloat.

They felt overjoyed to watch the magnificent whale, nicknamed “The Greyhound of the Sea” by whale lovers for its great speed and slender build, regain its strength and head home.

As part of its social responsibility projects, the Navy assists whale conservation.