The Story of JJ the Whale's Rescue When I first saw the gray whale calf on the beach, my heart sank. She was only a few days old and was struggling to stay upright in the pounding ocean surf. With the other volunteer workers from Whale Rescue Team, I approached the confused and frightened baby whale. I got close, and I couldn’t help but remind myself why no one had ever successfully rescued and rehabilitated a beached juvenile gray whale. It’s tough to save a weak fifteen-foot long infant who weighs nearly a ton. The morning calls to Sea World San Diego came back with disappointing news. They didn’t want the whale and were even unwilling to send help. National Marine Fisheries Service was no where to be seen, even though they were supposed to respond to whale strandings. It seemed like Whale Rescue Team was the only marine mammal group that cared whether JJ lived or died. At the beginning of what turned into a 44 hour sleepless rescue with on-going live television coverage, a desperate race started: we had to save this weak baby whale before her strength completely gave out. If it got to that point, she’d disappear under the water for good. We needed time to get the help, equipment, and supplies necessary to save the baby whale, so Whale Rescue Team had to push her into deeper water. I knew that she was weak, but the safest place for her was away from the pounding waves near the beach that were sucking up her strength. Our rescue boat accompanied her into deeper water. I marveled as she nuzzled the side of the boat, staying near us. It seemed like she knew that we were not going to let her die. We kept watch over her as other people on the rescue looked for any signs of the baby’s mother or a nearby pod of gray whales so we could reunite the lost juvenile. The search party spent the day on boats and in the air with the assistance of a television news helicopter. At the end of the day and a fruitless search, we had to accept the bad news that this little girl was all alone and in our hands. We put a great deal of pressure on Sea World, the only facility who could care for this whale. I made sure Sea World knew that we were talking right in front of media cameras all day long. At the end of the first day, they finally agreed to accept the whale but only if we could deliver her alive. They offered no other help, maybe fearful that JJ would die during rescue and it’d look bad for their image. It was too dangerous to launch a safe nighttime operation, so we had to wait until the morning for a daytime rescue. I prayed that JJ would make it through the night so we could start the rescue and relocation at first daylight. During the night, we lost sight of her in the darkness. After the excruciating and exhausting 16 hour day Whale Rescue Team put in, I expected to join the ranks of all those others who weren’t able to save a suffering gray whale. It was a depressing few hours after that. When the first daylight broke, we strained our eyes to see JJ among the rolls in the waves. Within minutes of the first morning’s glow of light, and with great relief, I spotted JJ floating nearly stationary behind large rocks as she tried to seek shelter from the surf. By that time, after working all night on the logistics, Whale Rescue Team’s plan was set. The rest happened fast. I jumped in the water with JJ, ready to guide her to the awaiting slings. It took the caring team of lifeguards, Los Angeles Police officers, and Whale Rescue Team volunteers to carry JJ to the transport truck. We rushed her 100 miles to Sea World, complete with the Highway Patrol escort that Whale Rescue Team had arranged. From there, delivered alive and well, JJ flourished. Months later, she was released to the ocean. When the gray whale had appeared on the beach the previous morning, no other marine mammal agency wanted to rescue her: they fully expected a failed rescue. Whale Rescue Team became the first marine mammal advocacy organization in history that had enough diligence, heart, and expertise to make sure this poor gray whale calf didn’t die. To continue our important work that delivers remarkable rescues like JJ the gray whale, we need your support right now. Knowing that you care about these beautiful animals as much as I do, I would greatly appreciate any donation you can offer. This donation is tax-deductible and would go far to make sure when there’s a marine mammal in peril, Whale Rescue Team will continue to respond with tremendous success. Click HERE to learn how you can help Whale Rescue Team Whale Rescue Team 415 South Topanga Canyon Blvd Topanga, CA 90290 Email