Tryphon (in memoriam)

The sperm whale is one of the species that frequents the St. Lawrence River, but it is rarely seen in the estuary. Tryphon therefore caused quite a stir when he was photographed for the first time off the coast of Les Bergeronnes in 1991. He quickly became a local celebrity when he was spotted in the area almost every year, accompanied by other sperm whales.

In June 2009, Tryphon became entangled in fishing gear off Sept-Îles, and his misadventure touched the entire community. Several partners from the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network attempted to free him, but the forty turns of rope that bound him caused such severe injuries that he died. However, the sperm whale’s adventure did not end there. Thanks to the support of the Fondation de la faune du Québec, researchers recovered his jaws, teeth, and the deadly ropes. Analysis of one of his teeth revealed that he was at least 60 years old! These objects are on display at the CIMM in Tadoussac and are now used to raise public awareness of the issue of entanglement.

Since Tryphon’s death, sperm whales are no longer seen as regularly in the estuary, but occasionally one will swim in the wake of our boat. Last summer, a group of five individuals was observed in the channel. Will we be lucky enough to see sperm whales again this season? We hope so!

Tryphon was the most famous sperm whale in the St. Lawrence. First photographed off Les Bergeronnes in 1991, he was by far the most loyal of the 30 or so sperm whales listed in the GREMM catalog, photographed almost every year in the estuary. Land-based observers between Les Bergeronnes and Les Escoumins were often the first to spot the animal and report its presence to researchers. He had become a familiar “face” on the North Shore.

On June 10, 2009, Tryphon unfortunately became entangled in crab trap cables in Sept-Îles. Despite all the efforts of the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network and the fisherman to free him (see the attempt to disentangle him), he died a few days later, still entangled in the ropes. His carcass was found on Saint-Barnabé Island, near Rimouski, where a GREMM team documented his injuries and entanglement: no fewer than 40 turns of rope were wrapped around his lower jaw. Thanks to the support of the Fondation de la faune du Québec, the team recovered the jaws, teeth, and ropes, a priority because these are powerful tools for raising awareness. Tryphon’s remains were buried on site by the City of Rimouski.

Analysis of one of Tryphon’s teeth by Véronique Lesage’s team at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) revealed that Tryphon was at least 60 years old. Eventually, Tryphon’s jaws and teeth will be on display at the CIMM, and replicas will be placed in partner museums of the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network. In the meantime, to see the entire skeleton of a sperm whale, visit the CIMM, which is exhibiting another individual that died in the Gaspé Peninsula in late summer 2003.

Otis Excursions’ new boat is named “Tryphon” in honor of this true North Shore character. This 48-passenger boat replaces two smaller vessels, a move that adds to the efforts of Alliance Éco-Baleine member companies to ensure responsible whale watching practices in the marine park.

This sperm whale made headlines on June 10. The previous evening, cruise ship passengers from Sept-Îles had called 1-877-7baleine to report a sperm whale trapped in crab trap cables. DFO and MICS quickly arrived on the scene to assess the situation. As night fell, the rescue had to be postponed until dawn the next day. In the meantime, extensive consultations helped refine the plan and safety instructions. Sperm whales are powerful animals that can become aggressive if they feel threatened.

In the morning, the fisherman managed to free Tryphon from 13 traps. The rescue team took over, and after several hours of work, Tryphon was back in the water, apparently in good health. Unfortunately, he was still dragging rope. A call for vigilance was issued throughout the St. Lawrence to monitor the animal’s condition.

On the morning of June 15, residents of Les Bergeronnes reported the presence of a sperm whale. Shortly thereafter, the GREMM team confirmed that it was indeed Tryphon and that he still had ropes around his head and dorsal fin. The day allowed GREMM and the marine park (PMSSL) to assess the animal’s condition. The MICS team was to attempt an intervention the next day, but the nomadic animal remained untraceable despite everyone’s vigilance. If you see a sperm whale, the watchword remains to call Marine Mammal Emergencies and keep your distance. A big thank you to all of you, attentive observers!

Accidental catches kill 300,000 cetaceans per year worldwide, endangering several populations, including the North Atlantic right whale. Prevention remains the best way to reduce these mortalities: around the world, fishermen are collaborating to develop techniques that are safe for cetaceans.