The Residents Association of Dana Bay Conservancy We care about our environment

To Yvonne Murphy and family, special thoughts and heartfelt prayer are with you in your sorrow.  Denis was a great friend and mentor and will be sorely missed.

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children" - anonymous 

 Update:

Our Southern Right Whale was spotted again on 6 September looking for company but as soon as the other whales got too close, backing off.  On 11 September she/he was noticed swimming with three other Southern Right whales, this seems like good news.  No ropes were noticed!  Spotted again on 12 September, alone, but swimming in circles beating the water with her flipper as there were dolphins surrounding her.   

 Southern Right Whale, 23 August 2008.

An entangled Southern Right Whale was noticed at approximately 11h00 on Saturday.  She had a buoy floating next to her tail making diving very difficult and swimming tiring.  The NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) was informed and responded with quiet efficiency. 

Equipment had to be brought from Plettenberg bay for the rescue operation.  Dawie Swiegelaar kindly organized the whole operation and had to travel to Knysna to receive the equipment.

The boats were launched at 15h00 from Mossel Bay.  The weather had turned foul, but the rescue boat arrived 15 minutes later to spot the whale.  Two other rubber ducks arrived to help.  Unfortunately due to the strong South Westerly wind and poor light, only the buoy could be removeds. According to Dawie, the rope seems to be through the whale's mouth and around her body.  Anybody spotting this whale must please report to the Dana Bay Conservancy.  She is a very light gray color with a black collar (black freckles around her neck).  She has been spotted in Dana Bay for the past 5 years.

Our sincere thanks to the whole crew for their prompt response.