An ailing Blainville's beaked whale ate some solid food - squid - provided by its human caretakers Thursday night at the University of Hawaii-Hilo's Hawaii Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility.
While the ingestion of solid food was a good sign, scientists were learning more Friday about the extent of poor health being suffered by the rare whale that beached itself in Kihei on Aug. 16.
Using an ultrasound and endoscopy equipment, volunteers and officials at the rehabilitation facility discovered that the whale has "primary issues" with a nutritional deficit, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal and lung problems as well as "residual issues" with its kidneys, said David Schofield, mammal response team coordinator for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in Hawaii.
The whale remained in "guarded but stable condition," he said.
"It's pretty sick, but it is stable," he said. "It is getting its fluids," in doses of squid "milkshakes."
On Thursday night, the 1,900-pound, 12-foot whale ate, with human assistance, about a pound of squid, Schofield said.
"We're beginning to try to get the animal to eat on its own," he said.
Schofield said the whale's caretakers would like to see it gain weight, in the same way doctors would seek weight gain in an ill person.
The Blainville's beaked whale is a deep-diving whale, but it regularly comes to the surface to get breaths of air. Schofield said it wasn't known what effects staying near the surface for an extended period would have on the health of the animal.
Schofield said the Hilo community, cultural practitioners and UH-Hilo students were working around the clock to make the whale "as comfortable as possible for as long as possible."
"They do deserve a lot of credit," he said.
The rehabilitation facility is attempting to raise $100,000 to expand into a larger and deeper facility. The whale is currently in a 25,000-gallon tank.
Donations also are being sought for other needs, such as food, medications, equipment and supplies.
The facility relies on about 220 trained volunteers and is seeking more to join its ranks. A training session will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 4 at the facility. Visitors are welcome daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"We really hope the community will come down and see for themselves what is taking place right here in Hilo," said Jason Turner, the facility's director and UH-Hilo marine science associate professor. "This is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the true wonders of nature and the kind of educational opportunity money can't buy."
To make donations or to volunteer, e-mail hmmrn@hawaii.edu.
* Brian Perry can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.
