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Original poster

The whale has died!

70 replies

Nbg · 21/01/2006 19:07

Sad
OP posts:
foxinsocks · 21/01/2006 19:35

Poor whale - although I guess from the start odds were on that something was wrong with it otherwise it wouldn't have come up the Thames in the first place (apparently that type of whale normally lives in water 1000m deep).

I hope it motivates people to think about things like Japan and its pro-whaling stance now that we have been lucky enough to see one up so close.

cathyspam · 21/01/2006 19:42

poor thing! At least they did all they could.

Spidermama · 21/01/2006 19:43

Very upsetting business.

Retrospect is a precise science but I'm not sure we should've tried to help it.

Of course it would've been so uplifting if it had come off and the whale swam off in deep water again, but - with the best of intentions - we interfered in its journey because of our own fear of death.

Spidermama · 21/01/2006 19:44

I find myslef wondering what drove it out of its depth to take this bizarre route.

starlover · 21/01/2006 19:45

foxinsocks... dp sat there and said, "if this was japan it'd be on the dinner table by now" !!!!

When i was watching and they said it was getting worse and stiffening and stuff i said i wished they would put it back in the water. it'd have had more chance then... if it was going to die it was going to die... but it might just have swam the right way and been ok

Spidermama · 21/01/2006 19:52

Or it might have had a less horrific few hours/minutes being in control of it's destiny.

It actually reminds me of the way so many people are forced to die in hospital with doctors pounding their chests, wiring them up, trying to force them to come back to life even if it is just for a short time.

I want to be allowed to slip off in my own home when my time comes.

I heard an amazing old woman on radio four once who'd got herself a tatoo on the chest which read, 'Do Not Resuscitate'. (Sp possibly).

SleepyJess · 21/01/2006 19:57

Oh poor poor whale. I feel so sad that it has died. It had convulsions in its final thoes of life. I hope it wasn't feeling too frightened by that time.

Spidermama · 21/01/2006 19:57

'Look, it's playing',
Sing the crowds
As the whale blows
Silver plumes in the irridescant sky.

A whale has come
To our river.
Our whale
In our great river.
London's pride magnified.

London's folk flock
The parapets of our majestic bridges
As our whale slaps a tail
And shakes the steady winter air
From the long embankment
Long British cheers of pride.

And when the tide ran out
He beached and died.

HappyMumof2 · 21/01/2006 20:00

Message withdrawn

philippat · 21/01/2006 20:10

While not unexpected, I too found this really . There's been a lot of talk by commentators today of him being an envoy - I really hope so given this decision by norway less than a month ago which I really can't understand or accept.

Spidermama · 21/01/2006 20:12

My seven year old dd has just written this ..

The stars hang a picture of him in the sky.
It's not so bad that our whale should die.
Now, other whales shall think of him
And how not to go for a river swim.

SleepyJess · 21/01/2006 20:15

Spidermama your DD is inspired! That is fab! Did you write the other one??

(My seven year old DD said "this is boring.. can we have Nick Junior on now?! )

PeachyClair · 21/01/2006 20:15

the other thread on this

starlover · 21/01/2006 20:15

that report says that minke whales aren't endangered. in which case... why is it worse than killing cows/pigs/sheep etc etc?

totally understand if animals are endangered and being killed though

Original poster
Nbg · 21/01/2006 20:17

They may not be endangered yet but they could be close.

Why do we need to kill these animals?

Beautiful poem from your dd SM

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 21/01/2006 20:19

Jonathan Ross will not be best pleased, he was demanding experts take action today on Radio 2.

Spidermama · 21/01/2006 20:20

DD's poem is great isn't it?

My dh wrote the other one sleepyjess.

Original poster
Nbg · 21/01/2006 20:21

Can't believe that came from a 7 year old!

OP posts:
SleepyJess · 21/01/2006 20:22

Both poems are fab SM. But the end bit on DH's is not how the end happened (not that I'm criticising!)

lucy5 · 21/01/2006 20:23

have a look at my dolphin thread it might cheer you up a little bit. Poor poor creature

SleepyJess · 21/01/2006 20:23

It obviously runs in the family Nbg! (I used to write clever poetry at 7 as well if memory serves)

SleepyJess · 21/01/2006 20:25

What thread Lucy?

SwimmingUpHillThroughCustard · 21/01/2006 20:25

the new article i caught was hanging on to the fact the 'rescue' mission had cost over 50K..well id rather my tax go to helping such a beautiful creature than where my money normally go's!!
its all about the money..i bet the first thing we hear now is .."£x was wasted because he died"..

SleepyJess · 21/01/2006 20:28

Yeah and people banging on about the starving homeless.. But on a positive note there is but ONE of these people on this whole site.. and one on another site I am posting on... and maybe they are the same person!

I think it was wonderful side of humanity to witness.. everyone trying to do their best and willing the lovely creature to get back to the ocean and survive..

lucy5 · 21/01/2006 20:28

dolphin