A whale caught in a fisherman's rope in Sydney Harbour has been rescued. The animal was spotted yesterday, but it took almost a day before the whale was released.
This is a young humpback whale. which was spotted yesterday in the Australian city's harbour during a whale-watching tour, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Swim laps
The animal had become entangled in fishermen's lines and fishing buoys, and was swimming around the harbor with no apparent purpose. Experts were concerned about the animal.
Because rescuers were unable to free the animal yesterday, large shackles were attached to the humpback whale. This made it easier to find the animal on the surface during the second rescue attempt this morning.
The fact that the whale was swimming close to the ferries in the port complicated the rescue operation.
Volunteers from Orrca, together with Australian Coast Guard personnel, finally managed to free the whale this morning. “The animal is swimming freely again,” a spokesman said after the rescue.
Orrca reports that at least three more whales are currently swimming off the coast of Australia, entangled in fishing lines. It is not clear exactly where these animals are.
