Federer Masters Melbourne Again
Sunday, 29 January, 2006
by Bren O'Brien
Swiss No.1 seed Roger Federer has claimed the men's title at Australian Open 2006 after a brilliant comeback against unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis to win 5-7 7-5 6-0 6-2.
Federer claimed the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for the second time in three years, but was forced to come from a set and a break down against Baghdatis who has captured the public's imagination in the past two weeks with his affable manner off the court and never-say-die attitude on it.
It was not the assured performance that has become expected of the Federer in the past two years, but the No.1 seed got better as the game wore on, using his full array of strokes to thwart the determined Cypriot, who had already knocked out No.2 seed Andy Roddick, the No.4 seed David Nalbandian and the No.7 seed Ivan Ljubicic on his way to the final.
Federer's Grand Slam record now stands at two Australian Opens, two US Opens and three Wimbledons, with the French Open the only major title to elude him. At 24, he remains on track to match Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles. Sampras had also won seven of his titles at the same age.
Both men dominated on serve early in the first set with only one point conceded by the server in each of the first four games. However, Baghdatis was able to pressure Federer on his serve in the fifth game. Uncharacteristically, the Swiss conceded three consecutive points with unforced errors and gifted the Cypriot a service break.
But Baghdatis also appeared in a charitable mood, handing back his break after a double fault. Keen to make up for his lost opportunity, the world No.54 continued to pressure Federer's serve, forcing the Swiss to bang down consecutive aces to win his next service game.
The Cypriot was finally rewarded for his persistence in the 11th game of the set. Federer led 30-0 but a series of unforced errors, including one on break point, gave Baghdatis the edge. Some powerful serves then set up two set points and when Federer netted his return, Baghdatis had taken stunning one-set lead.
Baghdatis took the momentum from the first set into the first game of the second set, breaking Federer, who conceded the game with his 19th unforced error for the match. The Swiss was staring down the barrel of a two-break deficit after an all-too casual shot from the net into an open court went wide in the third game.
It seemed to act as a wake-up call for Federer, and faced with the possibility of having to win the match in five sets, he saved two break points to keep himself in the set. He then pressured Baghdatis into conceding his next service game to get back on level terms.
Federer appeared to be under the greatest pressure on his serve, but when the break did come, it was against Baghdatis. Up 40-0 in the 12th game, the set looked destined for a tie-break, but Federer reeled off five consecutive points, including a set point which was over-ruled by the chair umpire, to level the match at a set apiece
Buoyed by his second-set heroics, Federer began the third set in fine touch, winning his own service game to love before breaking Baghdatis. Having romped to a 3-0 lead, Federer broke him once more, then held onto his serve in a tense fifth game. The world No.1 was starting to hit his straps and in just 24 minutes, took the third set thanks to a mis-hit backhand that landed on the line.
When Baghdatis cramped up during his first service game in the fourth, eventually conceding it to love, the writing was on the wall for the Cypriot. Federer had made it 11 games on end by the end of the third game, eventually conceded a game to Baghdatis but not before creating yet another break point.
A lesser opponent would have wilted under Federer's relentless pressure, but despite his body telling him to stop, Baghdatis fought on, ensuring the Swiss would have to battle for his seventh Grand Slam title. He held a break-back point in the seventh game, but couldn't capitalise. In the next game, Federer created two match points, he only needed one as Baghdatis hit a shot into the base of the net.
Current Match on Rod Laver Arena
Match Facts
• Federer had 11 aces to Baghdatis' 6
• Each player had 48 unforced errors
• There were 11 breaks of serve, eight to Federer, three to Baghdatis
• Federer won 142 to 116
Monday, January 30, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Justine Distraught by Retirement - 2006-01-28
Wow. I never thought The womens final was like this. Please just read the story taken of the Australian Open Site.
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2006-01-28/200601281138433392736.html
(I will add some photos later).
Justine Distraught by Retirement
by Amanda Buivids
Saturday, 28 January, 2006
It all happened rather suddenly, really.
Two points into her service game and then there was a tentative, long march to the chair umpire and … it was over. Just there and then.
The final of the women's singles at Australian Open 2006 was a set and two-and-a-half games old when Justine Henin-Hardenne, renowned for her fighting qualities, told umpire Alison Lang she could no longer continue.
She retired while trailing 4-6 0-2.
Her stunning capitulation took everyone by surprise, most of all Amelie Mauresmo, who after shaking hands with Henin-Hardenne and expressing her condolences, walked back to her chair realising the title was hers.
As Mauresmo saluted the warm and sympathetic Rod Laver Arena crowd, and wiped tears of joy from her smiling, joyous face, Henin-Hardenne sat, slumped in her court-side chair, head buried in a towel trying to come to terms with the enormity of her decision and its repercussions.
The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup was not the only thing at stake at that very moment, there was also her pride.
Such was her overwhelming sense of grief, it was the newly-anointed champion who had to stand up, walk the six metres and sit next to Henin-Hardenne, who was speechless and reduced to merely peeping through the peak of her cap and a sweaty towel.
It was the pure sense of disappointment that shuddered through her small, but muscular frame.
"It's one of the biggest (disappointments) because I don't know what is harder; to lose even when you're playing well and just you lose, or just when you have to retire like that," a distraught Henin-Hardenne said after the match.
"I think it's very disappointing because I was playing so well, and I had a lot of good chances to win here. When you lose that like this, it's pretty hard."
The No.8 seed said she had been feeling sick in the stomach for a couple of days. She said she had a problem shoulder and was prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets for the injury.
She admitted, though, that she had doubled her intake of the tablets to cope with the injury, which may have inadvertently caused her tummy troubles.
"It's been a few days I wasn't feeling well. My stomach was very upset. And then last night, I didn't sleep a lot because it got worse and worse," she explained. "Two weeks now, I had to take anti-inflammatories for my shoulder, and that killed me a little bit."
"But I had to for my shoulder. Now I got on my stomach, and then I had no legs today. I couldn't move. When the stomach is so upset and so inflamed, you know, you just don't have any energy."
"And I felt it when I woke up, but I tried. I knew at the beginning of the match I couldn't win it. I really tried to stay in the match, but there was no chance for me. If I would have keep playing and continue, maybe I would injure something else, so that was the best decision, even if it was very, very hard for me."
From the stands, the only minor indication that something was up with the petite Belgian, was the scoreline.
We had not seen her as overwhelmed in a final before. She was out-played and out-muscled in the opening set, suffering two breaks of serve to drop it in 33 minutes.
Henin-Hardenne called for the trainer during the second game of the second set after she managed to level at deuce on Mauresmo's serve.
The tyros had just completed a 33-shot rally - the best display of shot-making in the 52-minute contest - but obviously inflicted diabolical distress on the right-hander, who lost the following two points and the game.
After a three-minute injury time-out, the two combatants resumed with the calm Frenchwoman winning the two points, and Henin-Hardenne then walked towards the net to tell her opponent and the umpire that she was beaten and broken.
"I was dead, yeah … just after that point I was feeling like short of breath and no legs, no power, nothing," she said, referring to her request for medical assistance at the change-of- ends.
"I say, I am going to ask the doctor what we can do. But there's nothing we can do at that point when you're feeling like that. So I think that was really the best decision for myself."
World No.3 Mauresmo played magnificently. She controlled the contest from the start when she won her service to 15, and then immediately broke Henin-Hardenne before doing so again in the fourth game.
Her looping forehands and well-positioned serve troubled Henin-Hardenne, despite her physical frailties.
For the vanquished Henin-Hardenne, the match as well as the post-final media conference reduced her to tears.
The stress, the questioning, the criticisms had become overwhelming and too much of a burden to bare.
However, what was tougher for her was the tough decision to take her position on Centre Court when she knew that she was not 100 per cent healthy.
"Well, it's always my decision, you know, my choice. I know what was the problem, and I decided to walk on court because I'm professional, I want to try," she said. "When you see it's not working, it's the only way to go out."
"I mean, you know, it's hard when you're on the court and so much in pain. I think it's very easy to say that here in press conference. But when you're on the court and you suffer a lot and you feel like you don't have anything to give, it's pretty hard to stay on the court. I have no regrets about the decision I took."
Extending her professionalism, she congratulated Mauresmo, the 26-year-old who has finally broken through for her first Grand Slam crown in 32 attempts.
"It's great for her. She was waiting for that for such a long time, and it's finally coming out, very strange way, Kim (Clijsters) and me," Henin-Hardenne said. "But I'm sure it will give her a lot of confidence. She worked very hard so she deserved that."
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2006-01-28/200601281138433392736.html
(I will add some photos later).
Justine Distraught by Retirement
by Amanda Buivids
Saturday, 28 January, 2006
It all happened rather suddenly, really.
Two points into her service game and then there was a tentative, long march to the chair umpire and … it was over. Just there and then.
The final of the women's singles at Australian Open 2006 was a set and two-and-a-half games old when Justine Henin-Hardenne, renowned for her fighting qualities, told umpire Alison Lang she could no longer continue.
She retired while trailing 4-6 0-2.
Her stunning capitulation took everyone by surprise, most of all Amelie Mauresmo, who after shaking hands with Henin-Hardenne and expressing her condolences, walked back to her chair realising the title was hers.
As Mauresmo saluted the warm and sympathetic Rod Laver Arena crowd, and wiped tears of joy from her smiling, joyous face, Henin-Hardenne sat, slumped in her court-side chair, head buried in a towel trying to come to terms with the enormity of her decision and its repercussions.
The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup was not the only thing at stake at that very moment, there was also her pride.
Such was her overwhelming sense of grief, it was the newly-anointed champion who had to stand up, walk the six metres and sit next to Henin-Hardenne, who was speechless and reduced to merely peeping through the peak of her cap and a sweaty towel.
It was the pure sense of disappointment that shuddered through her small, but muscular frame.
"It's one of the biggest (disappointments) because I don't know what is harder; to lose even when you're playing well and just you lose, or just when you have to retire like that," a distraught Henin-Hardenne said after the match.
"I think it's very disappointing because I was playing so well, and I had a lot of good chances to win here. When you lose that like this, it's pretty hard."
The No.8 seed said she had been feeling sick in the stomach for a couple of days. She said she had a problem shoulder and was prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets for the injury.
She admitted, though, that she had doubled her intake of the tablets to cope with the injury, which may have inadvertently caused her tummy troubles.
"It's been a few days I wasn't feeling well. My stomach was very upset. And then last night, I didn't sleep a lot because it got worse and worse," she explained. "Two weeks now, I had to take anti-inflammatories for my shoulder, and that killed me a little bit."
"But I had to for my shoulder. Now I got on my stomach, and then I had no legs today. I couldn't move. When the stomach is so upset and so inflamed, you know, you just don't have any energy."
"And I felt it when I woke up, but I tried. I knew at the beginning of the match I couldn't win it. I really tried to stay in the match, but there was no chance for me. If I would have keep playing and continue, maybe I would injure something else, so that was the best decision, even if it was very, very hard for me."
From the stands, the only minor indication that something was up with the petite Belgian, was the scoreline.
We had not seen her as overwhelmed in a final before. She was out-played and out-muscled in the opening set, suffering two breaks of serve to drop it in 33 minutes.
Henin-Hardenne called for the trainer during the second game of the second set after she managed to level at deuce on Mauresmo's serve.
The tyros had just completed a 33-shot rally - the best display of shot-making in the 52-minute contest - but obviously inflicted diabolical distress on the right-hander, who lost the following two points and the game.
After a three-minute injury time-out, the two combatants resumed with the calm Frenchwoman winning the two points, and Henin-Hardenne then walked towards the net to tell her opponent and the umpire that she was beaten and broken.
"I was dead, yeah … just after that point I was feeling like short of breath and no legs, no power, nothing," she said, referring to her request for medical assistance at the change-of- ends.
"I say, I am going to ask the doctor what we can do. But there's nothing we can do at that point when you're feeling like that. So I think that was really the best decision for myself."
World No.3 Mauresmo played magnificently. She controlled the contest from the start when she won her service to 15, and then immediately broke Henin-Hardenne before doing so again in the fourth game.
Her looping forehands and well-positioned serve troubled Henin-Hardenne, despite her physical frailties.
For the vanquished Henin-Hardenne, the match as well as the post-final media conference reduced her to tears.
The stress, the questioning, the criticisms had become overwhelming and too much of a burden to bare.
However, what was tougher for her was the tough decision to take her position on Centre Court when she knew that she was not 100 per cent healthy.
"Well, it's always my decision, you know, my choice. I know what was the problem, and I decided to walk on court because I'm professional, I want to try," she said. "When you see it's not working, it's the only way to go out."
"I mean, you know, it's hard when you're on the court and so much in pain. I think it's very easy to say that here in press conference. But when you're on the court and you suffer a lot and you feel like you don't have anything to give, it's pretty hard to stay on the court. I have no regrets about the decision I took."
Extending her professionalism, she congratulated Mauresmo, the 26-year-old who has finally broken through for her first Grand Slam crown in 32 attempts.
"It's great for her. She was waiting for that for such a long time, and it's finally coming out, very strange way, Kim (Clijsters) and me," Henin-Hardenne said. "But I'm sure it will give her a lot of confidence. She worked very hard so she deserved that."
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Thames Whale Has Died - 19:42, Saturday January 21, 2006
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13496367,00.html
The whale on the barge
Thames Whale Has Died
Updated: 19:42, Saturday January 21, 2006
The Thames whale has died while being transported on a barge out of the River Thames to deeper seas.
See Sky News for the latest live footage.
The whale was being taken to an area off the north Kent coast for release when it suffered convulsions.
The whale is lifted on to the barge by a crane
A spokesman for the charity group organising its rescue from the river in central London said the bottle-nosed whale went into convulsions and died around 7pm.
Chairman of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group Alan Knight said: "We had a phone call from the vet saying that it had started convulsing and while he was on the phone it died.
"It was still about two hours away from the planned release place."
Another spokesman, Tony Woodley, told Sky News: "It is such a shame and I know that so many people in the UK and around the world have been watching this.
"It is such a great shame that on this occasion we have not been successful."
The whale's condition had deteriorated after being lifted on to the barge and vets had become "pessimisitic" about its chances of survival.
The 15ft-long northern bottle-nosed whale became stranded in shallow water near Chelsea shortly before midday.
A team of rescuers surrounded it near the river's south bank near Battersea Bridge.
They put inflatable pontoons in place to support it before lifting it on to the Crossness barge with a crane.
It was first seen in central London on Friday making its way up river as far as Chelsea.
Thousands of people gathered on both banks of the Thames and on bridges to see the mammal.
Northern bottle-nosed whales normally live in the north Atlantic and can be seen off northern Britain and Ireland in the summer.
It was believed to be the first sighting of the species on the Thames since records began in 1913.
The whale on the barge
Thames Whale Has Died
Updated: 19:42, Saturday January 21, 2006
The Thames whale has died while being transported on a barge out of the River Thames to deeper seas.
See Sky News for the latest live footage.
The whale was being taken to an area off the north Kent coast for release when it suffered convulsions.
The whale is lifted on to the barge by a crane
A spokesman for the charity group organising its rescue from the river in central London said the bottle-nosed whale went into convulsions and died around 7pm.
Chairman of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group Alan Knight said: "We had a phone call from the vet saying that it had started convulsing and while he was on the phone it died.
"It was still about two hours away from the planned release place."
Another spokesman, Tony Woodley, told Sky News: "It is such a shame and I know that so many people in the UK and around the world have been watching this.
"It is such a great shame that on this occasion we have not been successful."
The whale's condition had deteriorated after being lifted on to the barge and vets had become "pessimisitic" about its chances of survival.
The 15ft-long northern bottle-nosed whale became stranded in shallow water near Chelsea shortly before midday.
A team of rescuers surrounded it near the river's south bank near Battersea Bridge.
They put inflatable pontoons in place to support it before lifting it on to the Crossness barge with a crane.
It was first seen in central London on Friday making its way up river as far as Chelsea.
Thousands of people gathered on both banks of the Thames and on bridges to see the mammal.
Northern bottle-nosed whales normally live in the north Atlantic and can be seen off northern Britain and Ireland in the summer.
It was believed to be the first sighting of the species on the Thames since records began in 1913.
Whale Rescue Operation - 14:34, Saturday January 21, 2006
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13496367,00.html
Rescuers with the whale
Whale Rescue Operation
Updated: 14:34, Saturday January 21, 2006
Marine experts are planning to transport the stranded Thames whale on a barge to the river estuary.
See Sky News for the latest live footage.
However, they are still awaiting veterinary results to determine the animal's condition.
There is a chance the whale will not be well enough to be transported back out to sea.
The 15ft-long northern bottle-nosed whale became stranded in shallow water near Chelsea shortly before midday.
A team of rescuers then surrounded it near the river's south bank near Battersea Bridge.
They put inflatable pontoons in place to support it and are now lifting it on to a barge.
Many people are involved
Tony Woodley, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, told Sky News the whale was thought to be in a "moderate" condition.
"So far so good. The animal seems to be reasonably calm," he said.
Laila Sadler, from the RSPCA, told Sky News: "I think the whale is in the safest possible hands."
It was first seen in central London on Friday making its way up river as far as Chelsea, before disappearing around 9pm.
Hundreds of people have gathered today on both banks of the Thames to see the mammal.
Battersea Bridge has been closed due to the size of the crowd and warnings had been issued to spectators about the rising tide.
Northern bottle-nosed whales normally live in the north Atlantic and can be seen off northern Britain and Ireland in the summer.
It is believed to be the first sighting of the species on the Thames since records began in 1913.
Rescuers with the whale
Whale Rescue Operation
Updated: 14:34, Saturday January 21, 2006
Marine experts are planning to transport the stranded Thames whale on a barge to the river estuary.
See Sky News for the latest live footage.
However, they are still awaiting veterinary results to determine the animal's condition.
There is a chance the whale will not be well enough to be transported back out to sea.
The 15ft-long northern bottle-nosed whale became stranded in shallow water near Chelsea shortly before midday.
A team of rescuers then surrounded it near the river's south bank near Battersea Bridge.
They put inflatable pontoons in place to support it and are now lifting it on to a barge.
Many people are involved
Tony Woodley, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, told Sky News the whale was thought to be in a "moderate" condition.
"So far so good. The animal seems to be reasonably calm," he said.
Laila Sadler, from the RSPCA, told Sky News: "I think the whale is in the safest possible hands."
It was first seen in central London on Friday making its way up river as far as Chelsea, before disappearing around 9pm.
Hundreds of people have gathered today on both banks of the Thames to see the mammal.
Battersea Bridge has been closed due to the size of the crowd and warnings had been issued to spectators about the rising tide.
Northern bottle-nosed whales normally live in the north Atlantic and can be seen off northern Britain and Ireland in the summer.
It is believed to be the first sighting of the species on the Thames since records began in 1913.
Race to save whale in London - Saturday, January 21, 2006 Posted: 0421 GMT (1221 HKT)
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/01/20/britain.whale/
Race to save whale in London
Saturday, January 21, 2006 Posted: 0421 GMT (1221 HKT)
The whale swims between Albert and Chelsea bridges.
LONDON, England -- It's a whale of a tale -- a bottle-nosed whale swimming up the River Thames past Big Ben and Parliament as rows of worried Londoners looked on.
The northern bottle-nosed whale was spotted in central London on Friday afternoon -- the first sighting in the river since whale-watching records began in 1913 -- as it flailed around the murky waters of the Thames, stirring up patches of what looked like blood as seagulls hovered above and rescue boats stood on the ready.
Witness Tom Howard-Vyne said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben. "I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air," said Howard-Vyne. "It was an amazing sight." (Watch as volunteers try to come to the whale's aid -- 1:07)
Other witnesses reported seeing a second whale in another part of the river Friday, and marine experts spotted two disoriented whales off northeastern Scotland last week, suggesting something was causing bottle-nosed whales to become confused.
"It is a race against time to save the animal," said Alison Shaw, marine and freshwater conservation program manager at the Zoological Society of London.
A small armada of rescue boats made frantic searches for the whale, which disappeared from view around sunset after diving under the surface of the water. (Scenes from a whale's time in London)
Crews barricaded a section of river in an attempt to force the animal to change course and reports Friday evening claimed the mammal may be heading for safety.
Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the whale was last seen at Chelsea Bridge -- further downriver from earlier sightings, meaning the animal could be moving back out to sea. (See where the whale has wandered)
"A whale in the shallow water of the River Thames is like a human lost in the heat of the Sahara desert," said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She estimated it could survive only for 24 to 48 hours in a river that has an average depth of between 26 feet and 20 feet.
"It also seems to be in distress, it has made two seemingly deliberate attempts to beach itself," Sadler said.
Witnesses reported seeing injuries to the mammal, claiming its snout was bloodied. Photos also appeared to show damage to one of the whale's eyes and a number of cuts to its torso, though Sadler said these are not uncommon.
Several onlookers jumped into the river's 48-degree water -- after the mammal emerged, splashing to coax it away from shore.
The whale -- which is about 17 feet long -- is normally seen in the deep northern Atlantic, traveling in pods. They can reach 26 feet long -- the size of a red double-decker London bus.
When sick, old or injured, whales often get disoriented and swim off from their pod, said Mark Simmonds, science director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, although witnesses reported seeing a second whale in a different section of the river Friday.
Scientists have said fluctuating ocean temperatures, predators, lack of food and even sonar from ships can send whales into waters that are dangerous for the mammals.
"It's going to be very confused. It's already stranded twice. The poor creature doesn't know where to go," said Tony Martin, a senior scientist with the British Antarctic Survey.
The whale drew hundreds of people and scores of television crews to the river's banks and captivated Londoners who called radio and television stations asking if they could help.
London's Natural History Museum said it was the first time a northern bottle-nose has been sighted in the Thames since it began records in 1913.
Race to save whale in London
Saturday, January 21, 2006 Posted: 0421 GMT (1221 HKT)
The whale swims between Albert and Chelsea bridges.
LONDON, England -- It's a whale of a tale -- a bottle-nosed whale swimming up the River Thames past Big Ben and Parliament as rows of worried Londoners looked on.
The northern bottle-nosed whale was spotted in central London on Friday afternoon -- the first sighting in the river since whale-watching records began in 1913 -- as it flailed around the murky waters of the Thames, stirring up patches of what looked like blood as seagulls hovered above and rescue boats stood on the ready.
Witness Tom Howard-Vyne said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben. "I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air," said Howard-Vyne. "It was an amazing sight." (Watch as volunteers try to come to the whale's aid -- 1:07)
Other witnesses reported seeing a second whale in another part of the river Friday, and marine experts spotted two disoriented whales off northeastern Scotland last week, suggesting something was causing bottle-nosed whales to become confused.
"It is a race against time to save the animal," said Alison Shaw, marine and freshwater conservation program manager at the Zoological Society of London.
A small armada of rescue boats made frantic searches for the whale, which disappeared from view around sunset after diving under the surface of the water. (Scenes from a whale's time in London)
Crews barricaded a section of river in an attempt to force the animal to change course and reports Friday evening claimed the mammal may be heading for safety.
Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the whale was last seen at Chelsea Bridge -- further downriver from earlier sightings, meaning the animal could be moving back out to sea. (See where the whale has wandered)
"A whale in the shallow water of the River Thames is like a human lost in the heat of the Sahara desert," said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She estimated it could survive only for 24 to 48 hours in a river that has an average depth of between 26 feet and 20 feet.
"It also seems to be in distress, it has made two seemingly deliberate attempts to beach itself," Sadler said.
Witnesses reported seeing injuries to the mammal, claiming its snout was bloodied. Photos also appeared to show damage to one of the whale's eyes and a number of cuts to its torso, though Sadler said these are not uncommon.
Several onlookers jumped into the river's 48-degree water -- after the mammal emerged, splashing to coax it away from shore.
The whale -- which is about 17 feet long -- is normally seen in the deep northern Atlantic, traveling in pods. They can reach 26 feet long -- the size of a red double-decker London bus.
When sick, old or injured, whales often get disoriented and swim off from their pod, said Mark Simmonds, science director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, although witnesses reported seeing a second whale in a different section of the river Friday.
Scientists have said fluctuating ocean temperatures, predators, lack of food and even sonar from ships can send whales into waters that are dangerous for the mammals.
"It's going to be very confused. It's already stranded twice. The poor creature doesn't know where to go," said Tony Martin, a senior scientist with the British Antarctic Survey.
The whale drew hundreds of people and scores of television crews to the river's banks and captivated Londoners who called radio and television stations asking if they could help.
London's Natural History Museum said it was the first time a northern bottle-nose has been sighted in the Thames since it began records in 1913.
Whale in River Thames Causes a Wave - Fri Jan 20, 5:50 PM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060120/ap_on_fe_st/britain_whale
Whale in River Thames Causes a Wave
AP Photo: A northern bottlenose whale which swam up the River Thames in London on Friday...
By ERIKA PENNINGTON, Associated Press Writer Fri Jan 20, 5:50 PM ET
LONDON - It's a whale of a tale — a bottle-nosed whale swimming up the River Thames past Big Ben and Parliament on Friday as rows of worried Londoners looked on.
The whale was spotted in the afternoon as it flailed around in the murky waters of the Thames, stirring up patches of what looked like blood as seagulls hovered above and rescue boats stood at the ready. It was the first sighting of a Northern bottle-nosed whale in the river since British whale-watching records began in 1913.
Witness Tom Howard-Vyne said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben. "I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air," said Howard-Vyne. "It was an amazing sight."
Other witnesses reported seeing a second whale in another part of the river Friday, and marine experts spotted two disoriented whales off northeastern Scotland last week, suggesting something was causing bottle-nosed whales to become confused.
"It is a race against time to save the animal," said Alison Shaw, marine and freshwater conservation program manager at the Zoological Society of London.
A small armada of rescue boats frantically searched for the mammal, but it was lost from view around sunset, when it dived under water.
Crews barricaded a section of river in an attempt to force the animal to change course; it was unclear if their efforts were a success.
"A whale in the shallow water of the River Thames is like a human lost in the heat of the Sahara desert. It's just not made for these conditions," said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"We are worried that it will survive only for 24 to 48 hours if it doesn't head back to sea. It also seems to be in distress, it has already made two seemingly deliberate attempts to beach itself."
A rescue boat equipped with a cradle is on standby in case the creature beaches itself and another is fitted with a net, which could be used to drag the animal downriver.
Witnesses reported seeing injuries to the whale — which was an estimated 17 feet long — and said its snout was bloodied. Photos also appeared to show damage to one of the whale's eyes and a number of cuts to its torso, though Sadler said these are not uncommon.
Several onlookers jumped into the 48-degree water, splashing to try to coax the mammal away from shore. Members of the Whale Watch conservation group also ferried across the river to assess its condition.
Bottle-nosed whales normally live in the northern Atlantic, diving deeply and traveling in pods. They can reach 26 feet long — the size of a red double-decker London bus.
When sick, old or injured, whales often get disoriented and swim away from their pod, said Mark Simmonds, science director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
Last week, marine officials said they saw two bottle-nosed whales in northeastern Scotland when the mammals are normally seen in northwestern Scotland. That, coupled with the sighting Friday of a second whale in a different part of the Thames, could suggest that something is disrupting the whales, said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
There are many possible reasons whales become disoriented. Scientists have said fluctuating ocean temperatures, predators, lack of food and even sonar from ships can send them into waters that threaten their survival.
"It's used to using acoustics to find its way around. What will happen is that the reflection from the noise from boats, from water lapping up around, will ring inside the whale's head," said Tony Martin, a senior scientist with the British Antarctic Survey.
"It's going to be very confused. It's already stranded twice. The poor creature doesn't know where to go."
Friday's sighting drew hundreds of people and scores of television crews to the river's banks. Television screens carried pictures of the whale for most of the day, captivating Londoners who called radio and television stations asking if they could help.
It was the first time a Northern bottle-nosed whale has been seen in the Thames since the Natural History Museum began recording such sightings in 1913, museum zoologist Richard Sabin said.
He said bottle-nosed whales rarely swim in water as shallow as the Thames, which has an average depth of between 20 and 26 feet.
A minke whale was sighted in the Thames about six years ago, but not as far upstream.
"I am very concerned for the safety of this animal at the moment, particularly if boat traffic increases in the river," said Sadler.
Whale in River Thames Causes a Wave
AP Photo: A northern bottlenose whale which swam up the River Thames in London on Friday...
By ERIKA PENNINGTON, Associated Press Writer Fri Jan 20, 5:50 PM ET
LONDON - It's a whale of a tale — a bottle-nosed whale swimming up the River Thames past Big Ben and Parliament on Friday as rows of worried Londoners looked on.
The whale was spotted in the afternoon as it flailed around in the murky waters of the Thames, stirring up patches of what looked like blood as seagulls hovered above and rescue boats stood at the ready. It was the first sighting of a Northern bottle-nosed whale in the river since British whale-watching records began in 1913.
Witness Tom Howard-Vyne said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben. "I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air," said Howard-Vyne. "It was an amazing sight."
Other witnesses reported seeing a second whale in another part of the river Friday, and marine experts spotted two disoriented whales off northeastern Scotland last week, suggesting something was causing bottle-nosed whales to become confused.
"It is a race against time to save the animal," said Alison Shaw, marine and freshwater conservation program manager at the Zoological Society of London.
A small armada of rescue boats frantically searched for the mammal, but it was lost from view around sunset, when it dived under water.
Crews barricaded a section of river in an attempt to force the animal to change course; it was unclear if their efforts were a success.
"A whale in the shallow water of the River Thames is like a human lost in the heat of the Sahara desert. It's just not made for these conditions," said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"We are worried that it will survive only for 24 to 48 hours if it doesn't head back to sea. It also seems to be in distress, it has already made two seemingly deliberate attempts to beach itself."
A rescue boat equipped with a cradle is on standby in case the creature beaches itself and another is fitted with a net, which could be used to drag the animal downriver.
Witnesses reported seeing injuries to the whale — which was an estimated 17 feet long — and said its snout was bloodied. Photos also appeared to show damage to one of the whale's eyes and a number of cuts to its torso, though Sadler said these are not uncommon.
Several onlookers jumped into the 48-degree water, splashing to try to coax the mammal away from shore. Members of the Whale Watch conservation group also ferried across the river to assess its condition.
Bottle-nosed whales normally live in the northern Atlantic, diving deeply and traveling in pods. They can reach 26 feet long — the size of a red double-decker London bus.
When sick, old or injured, whales often get disoriented and swim away from their pod, said Mark Simmonds, science director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
Last week, marine officials said they saw two bottle-nosed whales in northeastern Scotland when the mammals are normally seen in northwestern Scotland. That, coupled with the sighting Friday of a second whale in a different part of the Thames, could suggest that something is disrupting the whales, said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
There are many possible reasons whales become disoriented. Scientists have said fluctuating ocean temperatures, predators, lack of food and even sonar from ships can send them into waters that threaten their survival.
"It's used to using acoustics to find its way around. What will happen is that the reflection from the noise from boats, from water lapping up around, will ring inside the whale's head," said Tony Martin, a senior scientist with the British Antarctic Survey.
"It's going to be very confused. It's already stranded twice. The poor creature doesn't know where to go."
Friday's sighting drew hundreds of people and scores of television crews to the river's banks. Television screens carried pictures of the whale for most of the day, captivating Londoners who called radio and television stations asking if they could help.
It was the first time a Northern bottle-nosed whale has been seen in the Thames since the Natural History Museum began recording such sightings in 1913, museum zoologist Richard Sabin said.
He said bottle-nosed whales rarely swim in water as shallow as the Thames, which has an average depth of between 20 and 26 feet.
A minke whale was sighted in the Thames about six years ago, but not as far upstream.
"I am very concerned for the safety of this animal at the moment, particularly if boat traffic increases in the river," said Sadler.
Whale Swims through Downtown London - 20 January 2006.
http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/ap_060120_whale_london.html
Whale Swims through Downtown London
By Erika Pennington
Associated Press
posted: 20 January:23 pm ET
LONDON (AP)—It's a whale of a tale—a bottle-nosed whale swimming up the River Thames past Big Ben and Parliament as rows of worried spectators looked on Friday.
The northern bottle-nosed whale was spotted in the afternoon—the first sighting in the river since 1913—as it flailed around the murky waters of the Thames, stirring up patches of what looked like blood as seagulls hovered above and rescue boats stood on the ready.
Witnesses reported seeing a second whale in another part of the river Friday, and marine experts spotted two disoriented whales in northeastern Scotland last week, suggesting there was something causing the bottle-nosed whales to become disoriented.
"It is a race against time to save the animal,'' said Alison Shaw, marine and freshwater conservation program manager at the Zoological Society of London.
A small armada of boats was planning to help the whale late Friday at high tide. One of the boats was equipped with a cradle in case the creature beached itself. It was unclear how long the whale could survive in the city's river.
Witnesses have reported seeing injuries to the whale, claiming its snout was bloodied. Photos also appeared to show damage to one of the whale's eyes and a number of cuts to its torso. It has already beached itself at least twice Friday.
Several onlookers jumped into the river's 9 degree Celsius (48 degree Fahrenheit) water—after the mammal emerged, splashing to coax it away from shore. Members of the Whale Watch conservation group also ferried across the river to assess the mammal's condition.
The whale—which is about 17 feet long (5 meters long)—is normally seen in the deep northern Atlantic, diving deeply and traveling in pods. They can reach lengths of 8 meters (26 feet)—the size of a traditional red double-decker London bus.
When sick, old or injured, whales often get disoriented and swim off from their pod, said Mark Simmonds, science director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, although witnesses reported seeing a second whale in a different section of the river Friday.
Last week marine officials said they saw two bottle-nosed whales in northeastern Scotland when the mammals are normally seen in northwestern Scotland. That, coupled with the second sighting Friday, could suggest that something is disrupting the whales, said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
There are many possible reasons whales become disoriented. Scientists have said fluctuating ocean temperatures, predators, lack of food and even sonar from ships can send them into waters that are dangerous for the mammals.
Friday's whale drew hundreds of people and scores of television crews to the river's banks. Most television screens carried pictures for most of day, captivating Londoners who called radio and television stations asking if they could help.
Tom Howard-Vyne, a spokesman for London Eye—the large Ferris wheel on the southern bank—said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben.
"I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air,'' he said. "It was an amazing sight.''
It was the first time a northern bottlenose has been sighted in the Thames since the Natural History Museum began recording such sightings in 1913, museum zoologist Richard Sabin said.
He said northern bottlenose whales rarely swim in water as shallow as the Thames, which has an average depth of between 8 meters (26 feet) and 6 meters (20 feet).
A minke whale was sighted in the Thames about six years ago, but not as far upstream.
"I am very concerned for the safety of this animal at the moment, particularly if boat traffic increases in the river,'' said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Whale Swims through Downtown London
By Erika Pennington
Associated Press
posted: 20 January:23 pm ET
LONDON (AP)—It's a whale of a tale—a bottle-nosed whale swimming up the River Thames past Big Ben and Parliament as rows of worried spectators looked on Friday.
The northern bottle-nosed whale was spotted in the afternoon—the first sighting in the river since 1913—as it flailed around the murky waters of the Thames, stirring up patches of what looked like blood as seagulls hovered above and rescue boats stood on the ready.
Witnesses reported seeing a second whale in another part of the river Friday, and marine experts spotted two disoriented whales in northeastern Scotland last week, suggesting there was something causing the bottle-nosed whales to become disoriented.
"It is a race against time to save the animal,'' said Alison Shaw, marine and freshwater conservation program manager at the Zoological Society of London.
A small armada of boats was planning to help the whale late Friday at high tide. One of the boats was equipped with a cradle in case the creature beached itself. It was unclear how long the whale could survive in the city's river.
Witnesses have reported seeing injuries to the whale, claiming its snout was bloodied. Photos also appeared to show damage to one of the whale's eyes and a number of cuts to its torso. It has already beached itself at least twice Friday.
Several onlookers jumped into the river's 9 degree Celsius (48 degree Fahrenheit) water—after the mammal emerged, splashing to coax it away from shore. Members of the Whale Watch conservation group also ferried across the river to assess the mammal's condition.
The whale—which is about 17 feet long (5 meters long)—is normally seen in the deep northern Atlantic, diving deeply and traveling in pods. They can reach lengths of 8 meters (26 feet)—the size of a traditional red double-decker London bus.
When sick, old or injured, whales often get disoriented and swim off from their pod, said Mark Simmonds, science director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, although witnesses reported seeing a second whale in a different section of the river Friday.
Last week marine officials said they saw two bottle-nosed whales in northeastern Scotland when the mammals are normally seen in northwestern Scotland. That, coupled with the second sighting Friday, could suggest that something is disrupting the whales, said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
There are many possible reasons whales become disoriented. Scientists have said fluctuating ocean temperatures, predators, lack of food and even sonar from ships can send them into waters that are dangerous for the mammals.
Friday's whale drew hundreds of people and scores of television crews to the river's banks. Most television screens carried pictures for most of day, captivating Londoners who called radio and television stations asking if they could help.
Tom Howard-Vyne, a spokesman for London Eye—the large Ferris wheel on the southern bank—said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben.
"I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air,'' he said. "It was an amazing sight.''
It was the first time a northern bottlenose has been sighted in the Thames since the Natural History Museum began recording such sightings in 1913, museum zoologist Richard Sabin said.
He said northern bottlenose whales rarely swim in water as shallow as the Thames, which has an average depth of between 8 meters (26 feet) and 6 meters (20 feet).
A minke whale was sighted in the Thames about six years ago, but not as far upstream.
"I am very concerned for the safety of this animal at the moment, particularly if boat traffic increases in the river,'' said Laila Sadler, scientific officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Whale swims up the Thames into London - FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/20/europe/web.whale.php
Whale swims up the Thames into London
The Associated Press
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006
LONDON A northern bottlenose whale swam up the River Thames on Friday, passing Parliament and Big Ben, and drawing large crowds of spectators to the banks of the waterway.
As TV stations followed the rare spectacle with live coverage, the mammal wandered into shallow water near the muddy banks of the tidal waterway, and several people jumped into the cold River Thames to coax it away from shore.
''I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air,'' witness Tom Howard-Vyne said. ''It was an amazing sight.''
The whale was swimming about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the mouth of the river on the North Sea.
''The fact that it is swimming upstream is not a good sign. The whale must be confused or ill,'' said Alison Shaw, a manager of the Zoological Society of London, Marine & Freshwater Conservation Program.
Such whales are generally accustomed to swimming in deep ocean waters, she said.
It was the first time a northern bottlenose was sighted in the Thames since the Natural History Museum began recording such sightings in 1913, museum zoologist Richard Sabin said.
A minke whale was sighted in the Thames about six years ago, but not as far downstream, the museum said.
At least twice on Friday, the northern bottlenose appeared to get stuck in shallow water in the Thames, and people ran along the shoreline in shallow water to try to coax it away from the banks.
Witnesses, riding in boats and walking along the river banks, first spotted the whale near Parliament and said it appeared to be 6 meters (20 feet) long.
Howard-Vyne, who is a spokesman for London Eye, the large Ferris wheel on the southern bank, said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben.
Northern bottlenose whales, which can grow up to 8 meters (26 feet) long, are known as curious and social animals, readily approaching boats and normally traveling in groups, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society's Web site.
The fact that this one was in such an odd spot could mean it was debilitated, said Mark Simmonds, science director at the conservation society.
''When whales turned up in strange places before, they have been old, sick or wounded,'' Simmonds said.
Sabin said northern bottlenose whales rarely swim in water as shallow as the Thames.
''The whale's chances are not particularly good,'' Sabin said. ''We hope it will swim back to sea.''
Whale swims up the Thames into London
The Associated Press
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006
LONDON A northern bottlenose whale swam up the River Thames on Friday, passing Parliament and Big Ben, and drawing large crowds of spectators to the banks of the waterway.
As TV stations followed the rare spectacle with live coverage, the mammal wandered into shallow water near the muddy banks of the tidal waterway, and several people jumped into the cold River Thames to coax it away from shore.
''I saw it blow. It was a spout of water which sparkled in the air,'' witness Tom Howard-Vyne said. ''It was an amazing sight.''
The whale was swimming about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the mouth of the river on the North Sea.
''The fact that it is swimming upstream is not a good sign. The whale must be confused or ill,'' said Alison Shaw, a manager of the Zoological Society of London, Marine & Freshwater Conservation Program.
Such whales are generally accustomed to swimming in deep ocean waters, she said.
It was the first time a northern bottlenose was sighted in the Thames since the Natural History Museum began recording such sightings in 1913, museum zoologist Richard Sabin said.
A minke whale was sighted in the Thames about six years ago, but not as far downstream, the museum said.
At least twice on Friday, the northern bottlenose appeared to get stuck in shallow water in the Thames, and people ran along the shoreline in shallow water to try to coax it away from the banks.
Witnesses, riding in boats and walking along the river banks, first spotted the whale near Parliament and said it appeared to be 6 meters (20 feet) long.
Howard-Vyne, who is a spokesman for London Eye, the large Ferris wheel on the southern bank, said he saw the mammal swim under Westminster Bridge, near Big Ben.
Northern bottlenose whales, which can grow up to 8 meters (26 feet) long, are known as curious and social animals, readily approaching boats and normally traveling in groups, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society's Web site.
The fact that this one was in such an odd spot could mean it was debilitated, said Mark Simmonds, science director at the conservation society.
''When whales turned up in strange places before, they have been old, sick or wounded,'' Simmonds said.
Sabin said northern bottlenose whales rarely swim in water as shallow as the Thames.
''The whale's chances are not particularly good,'' Sabin said. ''We hope it will swim back to sea.''
Dead whale left outside embassy - Thursday, 19 January 2006.
http://www.jengajam.com/r/21711
BBC NEWS
Dead whale left outside embassy
A huge beached whale has been dumped outside the Japanese embassy in Berlin. in a Greenpeace anti-whaling protest.
The controversial environmental activists hauled the fin whale to Berlin from the Baltic coast after finding it beached on a sandbank.
The dead whale measured 17m (56ft) long and weighed 20 tonnes.
Activists are trying to demonstrate that there is no need to kill the mammals for research - as Japan does - because cadavers can be found.
Japan is expected to kill 935 minke whales in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary during the first four months of 2006.
The International Whaling Commission imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986, but Japan resumed whale hunting the following year.
Critics dispute Japan's claim to be whaling for scientific purposes, saying whale meat often ends up on restaurant tables.
A Greenpeace banner in Berlin read: "Science doesn't need harpoons! Stop the senseless whaling!"
The fin whale in Berlin - between 10 and 20 years old - is believed to have got lost in the Baltic while looking for herring. Its normal habitat is the North Atlantic.
The whale is due to be taken to Stralsund on the coast for scientific examination after the Greenpeace protest.
BBC NEWS
Dead whale left outside embassy
A huge beached whale has been dumped outside the Japanese embassy in Berlin. in a Greenpeace anti-whaling protest.
The controversial environmental activists hauled the fin whale to Berlin from the Baltic coast after finding it beached on a sandbank.
The dead whale measured 17m (56ft) long and weighed 20 tonnes.
Activists are trying to demonstrate that there is no need to kill the mammals for research - as Japan does - because cadavers can be found.
Japan is expected to kill 935 minke whales in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary during the first four months of 2006.
The International Whaling Commission imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986, but Japan resumed whale hunting the following year.
Critics dispute Japan's claim to be whaling for scientific purposes, saying whale meat often ends up on restaurant tables.
A Greenpeace banner in Berlin read: "Science doesn't need harpoons! Stop the senseless whaling!"
The fin whale in Berlin - between 10 and 20 years old - is believed to have got lost in the Baltic while looking for herring. Its normal habitat is the North Atlantic.
The whale is due to be taken to Stralsund on the coast for scientific examination after the Greenpeace protest.
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