Humpback whale disentangled from rope

SOUTH African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) volunteers successfully disentangled a 4m juvenile Humpback whale off the coast of East London.

On Tuesday morning, SAWDN was alerted by East London ski-boaters of a juvenile Humpback entangled in fishing ropes about two nautical miles off shore.

“A dive charter boat located the whale and remained with it to mark its position pending the arrival of SAWDN.

“SAWDN volunteers, on an NSRI East London sea rescue craft, reached the scene and marine scientists examining images of the whale confirmed it was in poor health and was unlikely to survive.

“Volunteers, using the SAWDN specialised cutting equipment, were able to free and recover fishing rope that was entangled around the whale,” the network said.

No adult or parent animals appeared to be in the vicinity and the Humpback remained still and calm throughout the operation.

“Once free, the whale did appear to show some signs of renewed strength despite its poor health.

“The sea rescue craft headed out to sea with the whale following it, and adult whales were spotted further out to sea.

“Veering away, the crew saw that the whale appeared to continue in the direction of the adult whales,” the network said.

While the organisation was not optimistic about the whale’s chances of survival, the crew was nonetheless hopeful. SAWDN commended the ski-boaters for alerting them to the emergency and the dive charter boat that marked the whale’s position until SAWDN arrived.

Spearheaded by the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts, SAWDN volunteers include members of the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts, the NSRI, the Police Dive Unit, DAPG (Dolphin Action and Protection Group), the Natal Sharks Board.

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Crew saw that the juvenile appeared to continue in the direction of the adult animals

SA Whale Disentanglement Network