Dramatic rescue after baby humpback gets trapped in shark net off Australian coast

The baby humpback whale caught in a shark net off the Gold Coast, Queensland
HSI/AMCS/N McLachlan
Ben Morgan9 October 2018

Trapped in a shark net off a beach in Australia, a baby humpback whale struggles to free itself as its anxious mother swims nearby, raising her flukes as she dives to keep watch from below.

Rescuers, right, worked for almost two hours today to untangle the calf off Greenmount Beach in Gold Coast, Queensland.

Seaworld director of marine sciences Trevor Long said that during the “distressing” operation the mother stayed close: “It was a very young calf, almost enveloped in the net.

“I believe the mother realised we were helping, she was calm.”

Rescuers worked for almost two hours to untangle the calf
AP

The calf swam off with its mother after being freed.

During the “distressing” operation the whale's mother stayed close
AP

The nets protect swimmers against sharks.

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