An incredible rescue operation off the Australian coast has saved the life of juvenile humpback whale that was caught in ropes and fishing nets Monday.
The whale was spotted Monday morning struggling off Wattamolla Beach in Royal National Park.
“The whale is believed to be anchored to the seabed, possibly by fishing debris, but still breathing,” Marine Rescue New South Wales explained.
Multiple agencies dove into action off the country’s southeastern shore.
Great news! The entangled #WattamollaWhale has been freed by the NPWS disentanglement team and is now heading south. Big thanks to @ORRCA_Inc, @MarineRescueNSW and @nswdpi Fisheries 🐳@2GB873 @abcnews @abcsydney @9NewsSyd @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/YI6cQWtC5h
— DPIE Environment, Energy and Science (@nswenviromedia) September 14, 2020
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking, Marine Rescue NSW and ORRCA Inc were all part of the delicate operation.
Experts moved in and cut the ropes from the seven-metre-long whale.
Wattamolla whale rescue in progresshttps://t.co/miogD888JP#royalnationalpark #royalnationalparksydney #ilovesydney #nswparks #visitnsw #lovensw #NewSouthWales #seeaustralia #DestinationNSW #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneylife #bundeena #WattamollaWhale
— Royal National Park (@royalnational) September 14, 2020
It was entangled from its head and its tail.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service &
— Marine Rescue NSW (@MarineRescueNSW) September 14, 2020
Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking are about to launch an operation to free an entangled whale off Wattamolla in the Royal National Park. The whale is believed to be anchored to the seabed, possibly by fishing debris, but still breathing. pic.twitter.com/bFPziiDEek
The humpback, estimated to be about three-years-old, was en route to Antarctica when it became entangled.
A crew from Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking has joined the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service in an operation to try to free an entangled whale off Wattamolla in the Royal National Park. It is believed to be anchored to the seabed by fishing debris but is still breathing. pic.twitter.com/IIHCDIeEtd
— Marine Rescue NSW (@MarineRescueNSW) September 14, 2020
There are shark nets set up off the shore to protect beach-goers, but the ocean is also plagued by discarded fishing gear.
This is one of a number of whale rescues this year.
Officials said after it as freed, this whale carried on with its migration.
“Great news!” tweeted the Department of Environment, Energy and Science. “The entangled #WattamollaWhale has been freed by the NPWS disentanglement team and is now heading south.”
A whale entangled off Sydney's Royal National Park has been freed & is making its way south. The humpback, believed to be about three-years-old, was tethered off Wattamolla before being released by NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, with MR Botany Port Hacking & NSW Maritime. pic.twitter.com/U9F1Mjj9bw
— Marine Rescue NSW (@MarineRescueNSW) September 14, 2020
Main Photo: Marine Rescue NSW/Twitter
