Scoliosis diagnosis for fin whale
AN ALERT was sounded by fishermen over a large whale which appeared to be trapped in nets off the coast of the Valencia region earlier this month.
Biologists from the Fundación Oceanogràfic, based at the aquarium of the same name in Valencia, together with Guardia Civil maritime officers set out in motorboats to investigate.
Once the fin whale had been spotted, they approached and the scientists were able to observe that the animal was not trapped but actually had a deformity.
Weighing around 40 tonnes, the cetacean had a ‘serious deviation of the spine’.
Following their examination, the biologists reported that the whale was suffering from scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine. This was of ‘unknown origin’, they stated.
The UK NHS notes that in humans, for around eight in every 10 cases the cause of scoliosis is unknown. This is called idiopathic scoliosis.
Fundación Oceanogràfic explained that due to the size of the whale, which measured some 17 metres in length, and the fact that it
had a deformity and was in the open sea, they were unable to put a tracking device on it.
This would have enabled them to find out more information about the sea creature and its habits – and where it was heading.
The sighting was made off Playa de Cullera in Valencia province on Saturday, March 4.
The biologists explained that ‘after several hours of attention’ the whale swam away from the coast and headed for the high seas.
However, due to its ‘general condition and difficulty in swimming’ it could come back towards the coast in the near future, they stated.
Due to this possibility, they reminded that any member of the public can activate the beaching protocol in the Valencia region by calling the 112 emergency number, ‘if they see a marine animal with a problem’.
In the case of the whale, the Fundación Oceanogràfic rescue team would travel to the zone where it had been spotted to evaluate its condition and ‘take the necessary action’ if it reappears.
Big feeders
According to the Oceana association, fin whales filter feed for tiny krill or small pelagic fish and are totally harmless to people (other than through accidental collisions).
Mothers give birth to very large calves measuring around 6.5 metres in length.
They can grow up to 26m and weight more than 70 tonnes, living for between 80 and 90 years.
Oceana notes that fin whales have ‘accordion-like throats that help them gulp up to 1.8 metric tonnes of food a day’.
Fin whales are named after their prominent, hooked dorsal fins found near their tails.