What right to interfere?

Published on May 31, 2011 by The Editor · No Comments

Trying to save a sperm whale is misplaced pity. In the Wowster’s opinion

IF A WHALE beaches itself a whole industry gets into gear to save it from itself.

It isn’t pleasant watching anything die but this is what happens in nature. The latest victim of “poor navigation” – if that’s what it is – is a sperm whale which came ashore in Redcar unaware that it wasn’t a Blue Flag beach.

At 30’ long and going off faster than a supermarket fish counter, there is unlikely to be an autopsy to tell us why it happened. In any case, who cares?

Nature is indifferent
The fossil record is full of mammoths that went two by two straight into the swamp without a second thought and dinosaurs that did the same. Then there are the extant enigmas of sardines, geese, sheep, dolphins and even dogs – for whom the shuffling off this mortal coil cannot come quickly enough. Even the gnu, it’s true, sees something unanswerable in an open set of crocodile jaws.

They had everything to live for
When they were dishing out the nomenclature, “pilot whale” must have sounded like a good idea. They swim in massive schools numbering 60-90 pods and more often than not navigate themselves into water that’s too shallow and miles from the touchy-feely folk who are just dying to save them. Surely, they are trying to tell us something.

The latest in a long line of attempted mass suicides is taking place in the wilds of Loch Carnan, South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Every year these supreme numpties of nautical navigation end up beached somewhere. Millions are spent and huge amounts of time and effort are expended to save these creatures from themselves.

Compassion is laudable, sentimentality, less so – and in any case – nature doesn’t recognise either of them.

Board and lodging
These creatures like the sperm whale live in a world of instinct. If they were to try going round Asda or Sainbury’s for the umpteenth time wondering what to have for dinner or bombarded with stories about why Cheryl Cole was dropped from the US X Factor – they’d probably arrive at this result sooner.

The gnu may not realise it but something in nature tells it that all that aimless grazing and wandering on the Serengeti is finite. Foot-rot, one pulled muscle or a wound – and that’s your lot – you’re next role will be as the menu del dia for the local pride, cold meat in a hyenas’ smorgasbord or as an open sandwich for crocodiles.

What right do we have to interfere in any of this?

Do you agree or do you think it’s a rather harsh view? Opinions welcome