Rescued pygmy killer whales recovering from pneumonia in Koh Chang
By Praj Kiatpongsan


Photos: Eastern Gulf of Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center

KOH CHANG: -- Two pygmy killer whales that were recently rescued from the sea near Koh Chang are gradually recovering from pneumonia under special care of marine veterinarians. One of them is expected to return to the sea in one month.

Both whales were found injured and unable to move on the shore at the Bann Jek Bae beach on Koh Chang. On March 18, tourists reported the first whale at around 7am and the other one at 10am.

Earlier reports said that the whales were found in fishing nets, but that seems not to be the case. Earlier reports also said that the whales were killer whales (orcinus orca), when they are actually pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata). Pygmy killer whales are a member of the dolphin family and named so because they look like killer whales.

Veterinarians from the Eastern Gulf of Thailand’s Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center and Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, have teamed up to provide them with physical therapy to cure their pneumonia, which partially, if not absolutely, caused their symptoms. The mammals are both female and similar in size with one measuring up to two meters long and the other 2.15 meters.

Full story: http://www.coconutsbangkok.com/news/rescued-pygmy-killer-whales-recovering-from-pneumonia-in-koh-chang/


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2013-03-26

Nice to see a good news story on TV instead of the usual xenophobic reactions to bad news

Despite what the OP says and contrary to popular belief, the killer whale ( orcinus orca ) is also a dolphin. It is the largest member of the dolphin family.

All dolphin are members of the whale family. So the pygmy killer whale and the killer whale are both firstly dolphins, and secondarily whales.

Killer whales, even pygmy ones, should receive the same treatment as everyone else, except of course if they are redshirt killer whales

In Japan they would have been sold in the local markets!