[imagesource: AP Photos]

I’m constantly amazed by animals and their ability to navigate travelling huge distances with pinpoint accuracy.

Some birds cross oceans and return to the exact same nest to breed, for example.

Meanwhile, I’m out here using Google Maps if my route involves taking one turn I’m not used to.

That’s not to say that animals don’t suffer the odd snafu, which was the case with three humpback whales that veered off-course en route to Antarctica, ending up instead in the crocodile-infested waters of Australia’s largest national park.

Two of the whales have since found their way out of Kakadu National Park’s East Alligator River, but one remains, with wildlife experts keeping a close eye on the 52-foot (around 16 metres) humpback.

The Washington Post spoke with park zoologist Feach Moyle:

Moyle said park officials are weighing options, including minimal and active intervention “to attempt supporting the animal to move out of the river.” Those involved in rescue planning hope the highest tide of the year, which is due in a matter of weeks, will provide the whale with a “window of opportunity” to make its way back to sea.

Video footage taken from a helicopter above the East Alligator River on Tuesday shows the animal rising to the surface before disappearing once again into Kakadu’s waters — home to an estimated 10,000 crocodiles.

We should point out that the East Alligator River, whilst a hotbed for crocodiles, contains zero alligators.

Some footage shot from a boat on the river:

Experts say that whilst the sheer size of the whale should put the crocodiles off, there is no guarantee that if the animal falls into ill health, or becomes distressed, that crocodiles won’t pounce.

[Executive director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation for North America Regina] Asmutis-Silvia noted the whale’s spine and shoulder blades appear to be visible, features that are not often on display in healthier whales.

“This whale is not the picture of health and may have more to worry about than crocs,” she said.

In order to shepherd the whale out of the river, experts are considering using underwater noises that would push it in the opposite direction, which could include playing pre-recorded killer whale (orca) calls upstream.

At present, authorities have set up an “exclusion zone”, designed to keep boaters away and minimise stress for the animal, until the next course of action is decided on.

[source:washpost]