Chapter 699: Recovery Training

The two extremely weak melon-headed whales were transported to the zoo for further care.

Before departure, the penguin exhibit was notified to prepare by emptying and disinfecting the back pool.

Once the whales arrived, the pool was refilled with water!

A soft foam mat was placed in the pool, and the melon-headed whales were carefully positioned on it.

Handlers held them to prevent them from slipping away.

Lin Ying took a blood sample!

The whales were examined for bacterial or viral infections.

While waiting for the blood test results, the whales received some care.

Their bodies, blowholes, and eyes were thoroughly cleaned. Their bodies were rubbed, and their tail fins were moved gently.

These techniques, taught by "Little Dolphin," help whales and dolphins relax their muscles and recover their bodies!

Feeling comfortable also helps ease their anxiety about the unfamiliar environment.

The blood test revealed elevated white blood cells, indicating inflammation.

A needle was inserted into their tail fins, and IV drips were set up to administer saline and antibiotics.

...

That evening, the incident was reported on CCTV News.

"Seven melon-headed whales stranded in Linhai, and many local departments actively participated in the rescue.

What touched people's hearts was that many local residents also came to help despite the heat. Some villagers continuously poured water on the whales, others set up shade tents, and some covered the whales with wet towels.

Despite their hands and feet turning white from being soaked in seawater, everyone worked together, and ultimately, five whales were successfully rescued. After expert evaluation, three were released back into the sea, while the remaining two, due to poor health, were temporarily moved to the zoo for treatment...

Our actions demonstrate the concept of a community of life between humans and nature..."

The broadcast included an interview with Fang Ye!

The reporter asked, "How are the two whales doing?"

Fang Ye replied, "They were injured during the stranding and were lying in shallow, muddy pits with little water. It was noon, and they were severely dehydrated from sun exposure, possibly causing organ failure. Their condition was very poor, and they couldn't open their mouths.

Releasing them back into the sea in this condition would be fatal, so we brought them to the zoo for recovery."

"Why are they being held in the water?"

"Because they are still very weak and might struggle, which could cause them to choke on water. So, someone needs to hold and watch over them."

"When can they be released?"

"We will release them once they are in slightly better condition. Rescuing whales and dolphins is challenging because they are not in their natural environment, which makes them anxious and fearful, leading to a continuous decline in their condition until they adapt. Even with our careful care, staying too long in this environment could be fatal."

"Alright, we hope they recover soon and return to the wild!"

Netizens enthusiastically commented on the news on Weibo!

"Living in harmony with nature!"

"How loving! Take good care of these cuties!"

"The seeds of kindness are rooted in our hearts! Kudos to the rescuers!"

"This rescue was excellent, saving five whales! In our area, four stranded whales all died, which was a great pity."

"I heard from a friend that the local authorities responded quickly, and experts were involved from the beginning!"

"This is what animal protection looks like! Look at what our country is doing!"

"I hope the zoo tells the whales not to go to Japan or Denmark, just stay in our waters; there's plenty to eat!"

"Haha, even if you tell them, they won't understand."

"Why not just stay in the zoo? They'll have a permanent place!"

"Haha, they'll have food, shelter, and air conditioning, with fish to eat every day!"

"That sounds good. I'll visit them at the zoo someday!"

"Seriously, didn't Director Fang say the zoo environment isn't suitable for them? They need to be released quickly."

...

After two days of care, the melon-headed whales recovered quickly!

Fang Ye secretly added some spiritual water to the pool.

Although it didn't have direct healing properties, it greatly aided recovery and worked well with antibiotics to treat inflammation.

Besides saline and antibiotics, the whales were given nutrient injections because they were unfamiliar with the new environment and refused to eat, showing resistance.

Another blood test showed significant improvement in their health indicators, surprising "Little Dolphin" with their rapid recovery!

In the first two days, to prevent the whales from choking, handlers worked in shifts 24/7 to hold them in the shallow water.

The shallow water provided little buoyancy, making it tiring to hold them!

But seeing the whales' health improve, the handlers were delighted.

Now that the whales had regained some swimming ability, they could move around the pool without needing constant support from the handlers.

However, since the whales were still wild animals, continuous human contact made them anxious, hindering their recovery.

Though they had recovered somewhat, the whales were still weak!

Sometimes they would flip over or even bump into the walls out of frustration.

Handlers remained on standby by the pool, ready to jump in and rescue them if needed.

At this moment, Fang Ye was in the pool, gently supporting a whale with one hand, like a swimming coach, helping it practice swimming!

He guided the whale's body forward, helping it regain its agile swimming skills.

With his other hand, he stroked the whale from its head to its dorsal fin, smiling and asking, "How does that feel?"

The whale's skin was soft, elastic, and cool, feeling very pleasant to touch.

It was like a soft, cool leather sofa that had just had ice placed on it!

The whale trusted Fang Ye and enjoyed his touch.

Its pectoral fins and dorsal fin moved slowly as it swam leisurely.

Feeling happy, it surfaced and spouted a white mist from its blowhole, expressing its joy.

Lan Li captured this moment with a timely "click" of her camera!

The other whale in the pool, supported by a handler, also preferred to swim near Fang Ye! It insisted on being close to him.

For some reason, being near this person made it feel very secure.

It swam over and affectionately nuzzled Fang Ye's hand with its mouth.

Lin Ying envied, "Director Fang is always so popular with animals! Lions and tigers are one thing, but even dolphins and whales like him! Ah, I want to touch them too, I'm so jealous!"

Lan Li said, "What's there to envy? You must have touched them when you drew blood, right? I haven't had the chance."

Lin Ying sheepishly laughed, "Yes, it feels great to touch! But such opportunities are rare; once they leave, we won't get to touch them again."

After swimming with the whale for a while, Fang Ye brought over a basin of small fish to feed them.

They now had an appetite for fish.