Pilot Whale

Helpless. We were totally helpless. Though we had great intentions, there was nothing we could do to lift the animal out of the receding tidal pool and back into deeper water. And even if the three of us could move the 1000 pound beast, Robert, who was closest to him, reported that he was gravely injured and certainly close to death….

The morning had begun as usual. I was off at sunrise on my walk with Rowdy and Miss Yeager when, not far from the house I spied something splashing in water. Thinking it was another curious sea lion, I stopped to watch. Suddenly I became aware that whatever it was was stranded and trying to escape the confines of the pool. Without investigating further, and thinking it was a dolphin, I ran home to wake Robert and see if maybe we could rescue the poor animal.

‘Is it large?’ he asked, and though I was pretty sure it was, I said I didn’t know. I was afraid that if I said yes, Robert would tell me it was hopeless and I really really wanted to try. So as he pelted me with questions – how far out? how big? where exactly? – I said 'Just come and look.' Robert donned his full wetsuit and I put on a bathing suit. Running next door to get our neighbor Bruce, I hoped that maybe 3 people could lift it. We gathered something for a makeshift sling and then we all met on the beach in short order. The tide was still going out and time was of the essence.

Wading out in the mid-50 degree water was bone chilling. I kept telling myself that I could do this, though I lagged behind, knee deep in the water as Robert approached the animal. At first he wasn’t sure exactly what it was, and when he mistakenly said it was a shark, I thought,’ Oh good I don’t have to get wet!’ but then I had to question myself. Why I would save one creature, but not another?

Bruce stood at the water’s edge as Robert sadly gave the news that it was a pilot whale and sure to die very shortly no matter what we did. He was close to tears as he reported that the surrounding water was filled with blood and he could see death in the big mammal’s eye. I waded no deeper and neither did Bruce.  We forlornly walked home wishing that it had been otherwise, but nature has her ways.

About an hour later, when the tide was at its lowest I walked out to the animal. Now in only ankle deep water I wanted to inspect him closely and hopefully offer some comfort, if he was still alive. Roughly 10 feet long and black in color, he was covered in blood. I saw that there was a huge gash across his head, as if he’d been struck by a propeller, along with numerous small cuts and lacerations. Several teeth were missing. So little movement led me to believe that he was very close to the end. 

I stood and thanked him aloud and told him how beautiful he was and that even now he was still an awesome creature to behold. Though I was sorry for his pain, I continued to tell him that I was deeply grateful for this opportunity to get so close to him and see his magnificence and how I was here to offer him some comfort and support in the only way I knew how.

I reached down and stroked his flank, and I noticed his eye turn to me and try to focus as if in gratitude. I gently stroked him some more and splashed water onto his parched and peeling skin. He responded by moving his tail back and forth. My apologies were offered for my inability to save him but I would stay in hopes of comforting him. I moved to his head and gently stroked his blow hole. Crouching down, my hand covered in blood I spoke softly to him and it seemed to calm him. As I caressed I was surprised to see him extend his sexual organ and ejaculate into the water, twice. I took it as a sign of pleasure however odd it might seem.

By this time others had begun to gather on the beach to see what was going on. My time with this beautiful creature was coming to an end and I said my goodbyes and wished him wondrous travels on his next adventure. Slowly I walked home deeply touched by the experience.

It was an honor to witness this death – though surely I would have liked to have been able to save him. But it was not to be so. He offered himself to me, so that I might know more of the sea and its inhabitants. He assisted me in facing death yet again. And as I cleaned the sand from my shoes on the patio, I was filled with an unbelievable knowing that this whale gave me a part of himself that will always be with me, no matter what.

And blessedly, I gave him a part of me, too.