A WHALE caught in ropes can be clearly visible one moment and gone beneath the water the next.
For ORRCA volunteers watching through binoculars from the beach, finding it again is far from easy.
Now the Port Stephens and Newcastle pod is asking the community to help buy a drone so volunteers can better track entangled whales and assess injured marine mammals.
Sherelyn Overson, ORRCA’s pod leader for Port Stephens and Newcastle, said recent entanglements off the coast had highlighted the need.
“Because once we lose it, you will very rarely find it again,” Ms Overson said.
The pod hopes to raise about $4,000 for the drone, which would give volunteers a clearer view of ropes, floats and where they are caught around an animal.
Ms Overson explained that ORRCA volunteers located and monitored entangled whales, while National Parks and Wildlife Service teams carried out disentanglements.
Keeping the animal in sight until a team can reach it is a vital part of that work.
The drone would also help volunteers check reports of sick or injured dolphins, seals and whales, allowing them to see injuries that are difficult to assess from shore.
At present, the pod relies on people being available to bring their own equipment.
“If I need a drone at the moment, I really rely on individuals who may be able to come along with their own drone,” Ms Overson said.
Having one kept locally with the rescue equipment would allow trained members to collect it when needed.
The appeal has already received $1,000, with Soldiers Point Bowling Club and Tilligerry Peninsula Lions Club each donating $500. Local businesses have also contributed raffle prizes.
Residents can help by joining a fundraising whale-watching cruise aboard Imagine Catamaran, buying raffle tickets, or donating towards the Port Stephens drone appeal.
Ms Overson said rescue work could be emotional, particularly when volunteers spent hours helping an animal that did not survive.
“Sometimes you have great successes, and that’s wonderful,” she said.
Anyone who sees a stranded, injured or entangled marine mammal should call ORRCA’s 24-hour hotline on (02) 9415 3333 rather than attempt a rescue themselves.
Bookings for the fundraising whale-watching cruise are available at https://portal.orrca.org.au/events/11903.
By Althea GUINSBERG
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