International Animal Rescue
Dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of suffering animals

Annual Review 2007

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IAR News

January 2006

IAR team helps support the Thames whale rescue

Crew lifting the whale onto the bargeIt was ’all hands on deck’ in the IAR office in Uckfield when news came in on Friday evening of a whale swimming in the Thames. While a team from IAR’s sister charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue rushed to the aid of the Northern Bottlenose Whale, IAR staff liaised with rescuers at the scene and manned the constantly ringing phones throughout the weekend. Led by IAR CEO Alan Knight, the team assisted with the coordination of the rescue operation and kept the BDMLR network of volunteers updated on progress.

In spite of the best efforts of veterinary experts and rescuers to save the whale and move it out of the river on a barge, sadly the young female died on Saturday evening. Alan Knight, who is also Chairman of BDMLR, said: "The last two days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for us all, with our hopes of saving this beautiful animal being raised and then finally dashed when she lost the fight to survive. Nevertheless, I am really proud of the rescue operation that was attempted. The rescuers and the equipment worked faultlessly, and behind the scenes a team in the IAR office coped tirelessly with a stream of calls from rescuers, concerned members of the public, and press and media from around the world asking for updates and images of the rescue.

Vets monitoring the whale on the bargeIn spite of the sad death of the whale, in many ways this rescue attempt has been a very positive experience. The demonstration of public interest and support for the rescue from all over the world has been overwhelming. It is heartening to see that the British public is captivated by our magnificent marine wildlife and is concerned for its welfare. Thanks to the dedication and professionalism of the rescue volunteers and the back up team Vets monitoring the whale on the barge in the office, I am absolutely certain that we pulled out all the stops and gave that whale the very best possible chance of survival."

Preliminary results from a post mortem on the whale will be released on Wednesday 25 January. For further information, visit the BDMLR website.

< Back to News

August 2008
Volunteer gives glowing report of her time in Goa
Gal Marwitz from Israel has given a glowing account of the time she spent volunteering at IAR’s clinic and rescue centre in Goa.

July 2008
Wildlife traders sent to prison in Indonesia
Following a joint raid earlier this year by the Forestry Department, International Animal Rescue and the Institute of Animal Advocacy (LASA), two traders in Jatinegara market, Jakarta, Indonesia were arrested.

June 2008
Update on IAR’s work in Indonesia
As well as macaques and slow lorises, our team in Indonesia has ended the suffering of a number of endangered Javan gibbons living in misery in a centre known as Cikananga.

June 2008
Goa vets examine hawksbill sea turtle
In June the vets at the International Animal Rescue centre in Goa had an unusual patient in the form of a giant Hawksbill sea turtle.

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