A young humpback whale was successfully rescued from a tangle of fishing line and heavy rope in Queensland, thanks to the assistance of North Stradbroke Island Ferry Operators who helped locate the distressed marine animal. This rescue operation took place in Moreton Bay and was carried out by crews from the Sea World Foundation.
Wayne Phillips, the head of marine sciences at the Sea World Foundation, reported that the whale was found with its tail entangled. He stated, “We were able to get hold of that line and pull ourselves up onto the whale, examine the situation, and devise a plan for disentanglement.” When the rescue team approached, the whale appeared lethargic, indicating that the entrapment had taken a toll on its health.
The disentanglement process required two careful cuts and took approximately 20 minutes to complete. Once freed, the whale took some time to gather its strength before swimming away, appearing lively as it moved towards warmer waters. Video footage of the rescue revealed the joyful moment as the whale made its escaped into the ocean.
This incident highlights the vital role of cooperation between ferry operators and marine rescue teams in ensuring the safety of wildlife and demonstrates the effectiveness of swift action in addressing such emergencies.