Rescuers hopeful for Marvin the whale

By Simon Rabinovitch

LONDON (Reuters) - A young minke whale has been trapped in a Scottish harbour for two days but rescuers said on Friday that, despite several failed attempts, they are hopeful it can be coaxed back to sea.

Hundreds of well-wishers have gathered at Fraserburgh Harbour in northeast Scotland to watch efforts to save the five-metre mammal nicknamed "Marvin", the latest in a series of whales to become stranded on the British coastline.

"The animal appears to be in reasonable condition although it won't be feeding where it is, which means slowly it will lose condition over a period of days," said Tony Woodley of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which is leading the rescue team.

To avoid stressing the whale, estimated to be at least five months old, rescuers have been using hands-off techniques.

On Thursday, rescuers tapped on hollow metal poles to create a wall of sound behind the mammal and herd it towards the harbour mouth, which the whale approached before turning back.

Rescuers plan to use the metal poles again on Friday just after high tide when the water level is slowly dropping, making for a "gentle flow out of the harbour", Woodley said.

Underwater speakers playing sounds of other minke whales may also be tried to lure the trapped mammal to sea, he added.

Several bystanders have tried taking matters into their own hands, jumping into the harbour in the hope of swimming Marvin to freedom.