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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Young Humpback Whale Rescued from Fishing Gear
A young humpback whale was successfully freed from fishing tackle that had become wrapped around its tail during a nearly 24-hour rescue mission in Sydney Harbor.
After the government wildlife rescuers removed the ropes late Friday morning, the juvenile whale immediately started swimming towards the Sydney Heads and out into the open Pacific Ocean, according to Vanessa Pirotta, a whale expert from Macquarie University.
The whale was first spotted by operators of a whale watching cruise ship at 1 p.m. on Thursday, who reported its distress.
Rescue efforts began that afternoon and included boats, helicopters, and drones. The operation continued early Friday morning to ensure the whale’s safe release.
Pirotta noted that the whale may have been entangled well before Thursday. She could tell from the sound of its breathing that it was “very fatigued” prior to being freed.
“Is the whale OK? I hope so, but the truth is that this animal has gone through a significant ordeal,” Pirotta mentioned in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“Being caught in fishing gear is terrible, and then having boats and drones in one of the busiest harbors in the world, Sydney Harbor — it’s astonishing to witness how this situation unfolded,” she added.
Rescue Techniques and Challenges
Jessica Fox, a representative from the volunteer Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia, explained that the rescue team used buoys attached to the tangled rope to slow down the whale, allowing them to hold it steady while they cut the ropes free.
“The whale had been swimming in circles in Sydney Harbor and making some erratic movements,” Fox said in a video shared on social media before the whale was released. “Disentangling a whale is an incredibly challenging task,” she added.
Pirotta also mentioned that it was unclear why the whale had stayed in the harbor instead of swimming to the open ocean with its tail entangled. However, its presence in the harbor made it easier for the rescuers to carry out their mission.
A humpback whale is classified as a juvenile until it reaches 4 years of age, and its gender remains unknown.
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