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Press Release -- Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Following is the Press Release issued on Tuesday afternoon, May 22, 2007 by the Joint 
Information Center:

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RIO VISTA, Calif. - The health of two humpback whales that wandered into the Sacramento 
River earlier this month continues to be a focus of rescue operations. Principal 
veterinarian, Dr. Frances Gulland of The Marine Mammal Center, reported changes in the 
whales' wounds and skin condition Tuesday observed from her station on the Sacramento 
River at Rio Vista.  

"We continue to monitor the condition of both mother and calf, and have concerns about 
our recent observations," Gulland said. "The wounds appear to have worsened over time 
and their skin has changed from smooth and shiny to irregular and pitted," she added. 

The wounds sustained by the mother and calf are presumed to have been caused by a run-in 
with a vessel.  

Biologists say fresh water from the river can impede the healing process for the whales. 
However, assessing the health of wild animals can be difficult because they have evolved 
to mask their injuries to protect themselves from predators. 

A sample of skin and blubber was taken from the adult whale yesterday and sent to 
research labs at Oregon State University, the University of Tennessee and the Northwest 
Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. The sample will be tested to reveal the whale's 
general health condition, her nutritional status, and help identify her population stock.
 
Unified rescue operations by federal, state and local agencies are ongoing. Twelve boats 
were deployed to conduct herding operations to help encourage the whales down the 
Sacramento River and out to the Pacific. Personnel on these vessels resumed their pipe-
banging efforts today, aimed at urging the whales downriver. 
	
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