"At 11.30 members of SAWDN were activated following reports from the Rock Lobster fishing vessel 'Biskop' reporting a whale entangled in rock lobster netting, rope and floatation buoys approximately two nautical miles off-shore of Olifantsbospunt, Cape Point," said spokesman Craig Lambinon.
The right flipper and torso of the 11 metre Humpback whale had become entangled in ropes that were still attached to rock lobster traps on the sea bed.
Mike Meyer of SAWDN said two other whales arrived on the scene during the operation.
"During the operation two larger adult whales appeared and it looked like they were giving some encouragement to the [entangled] whale ... They hovered around and swam alongside the casualty whale while our members worked to cut the whale free."
He said all the ropes, netting and buoys were cut off the whale and it swam off looking healthy and comfortable.
Source : Sapa
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Members of the SA Whale Disentanglement Network use specialized equipment to free the whale entangled in rop, netting, floatation buoys and rock lobster traps. Photo by Chad Chapman, NSRI.
