SAWDN - Hout Bay - two day training session

The South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) held a two day training session for 36 new volunteers in Hout Bay this weekend.Head of the SAWDN Mike Meyer said, 'The course started on Saturday. We kicked off with the theory side of what we do including what causes the whales to become entangled, safe procedures to remove gear from trapped animals, how the specialist equipment works and the different protocols and roles within a disentanglement team.'After writing an exam on the theory that they had learned the new volunteers took part in a practical session on the beach and then at sea to hone their new skills.The new SAWDN recruits came from as far as Agulhas and Saldanha, and included Sea Rescue volunteers, Department of Forestry and Fisheries employees, a boat based whale watching operator and a representative from the Octopus Industry. They join the team who is on standby 24/7 to free entrapped whales around the South African coastline. Picture: Gavin Kode Picture: Gavin Kode Picture: Gavin Kode Picture: Gavin KodeMedia enquiries to SAWDN spokesman Andrew Ingram on 082 990 5977.Pictures are available for media download on Sea Rescue’s Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/searescue/