Trapped Humpback whale freed from shark nets in dramatic sea rescue
Sea World workers in Queensland, Australia, pulled off a dramatic rescue off the coast of Mermaid Beach where a humpback whale had become trapped in shark control nets.
The large mesh nets, which are commonly around 500 feet long and some 20 feet deep, are designed to deter sharks from reaching the shallower waters where swimmers are often found.
Australia is home to some of the world’s most dangerous shark species and, as of this year, it’s the second leading country for unprovoked shark attacks behind the USA, according to the International Shark Attack File.
Consequently, shark nets, while illegal in many other countries, are still permitted in Australia.
But the same nets designed to protect people can be fatal for whales and other marine life, especially during the whale's migration season.
Off the Queensland shore, June is the peak season for whale migration, with some 40,000 whales passing through en route from Antarctica to the state’s tropical northern waters, where they breed. Last year, a record number of whales were entangled in Queensland's shark nets prompting renewed calls from conservationists for their removal during migration season.
The first whale victim of this year was a young humpback whose head and fins became entangled in netting. Frequently, trapped whales die from stress or exhaustion.
Fortunately, on this occasion, help was at hand. After being alerted to the whale’s plight, rescue workers from Sea World were able to reach the distressed calf and set it free to continue its journey.
Watch the video below to see a humpback whale’s dramatic sea rescue.
