A dramatic rescue unfolded off the coast of Cape Recife when a humpback whale, entangled in fishing rope, was freed after a complex four-hour operation involving the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and the South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN).
The alarm was raised on Tuesday morning when the fishing vessel Louisa-Claire reported the sighting of a whale trapped in rope and anchored to the seabed about 15 nautical miles south of Cape Recife. The vessel remained on the scene to guide rescuers.
NSRI Gqeberha dispatched two rescue craft, Bay Guardian and Eddie Beaumont II, carrying trained SAWDN volunteers, specialised disentanglement gear, and cutting equipment. On arrival, rescuers found the whale’s fluke and caudal peduncle wrapped tightly in rope, with a buoy trailing behind.
The operation was complicated by the presence of several other humpback whales, believed to be companions of the distressed animal, which repeatedly swam close to the rescue craft. At one stage, five orcas also appeared, but were chased away by the humpback whales.
“Despite extremely difficult conditions and equipment losses during the operation, our team managed to make several cuts to the entangled ropes until the whale was fully freed. The animal remained strong and healthy throughout and swam off once the last line was removed," Kevin Warren, NSRI Gqeberha coxswain, said.
All recovered rope and buoys were secured for disposal.
The NSRI praised the skipper and crew of the Louisa-Claire for their quick action and vital assistance.
The alarm was raised on Tuesday morning when the fishing vessel Louisa-Claire reported the sighting of a whale trapped in rope and anchored to the seabed about 15 nautical miles south of Cape Recife. The vessel remained on the scene to guide rescuers.
NSRI Gqeberha dispatched two rescue craft, Bay Guardian and Eddie Beaumont II, carrying trained SAWDN volunteers, specialised disentanglement gear, and cutting equipment. On arrival, rescuers found the whale’s fluke and caudal peduncle wrapped tightly in rope, with a buoy trailing behind.
The operation was complicated by the presence of several other humpback whales, believed to be companions of the distressed animal, which repeatedly swam close to the rescue craft. At one stage, five orcas also appeared, but were chased away by the humpback whales.
“Despite extremely difficult conditions and equipment losses during the operation, our team managed to make several cuts to the entangled ropes until the whale was fully freed. The animal remained strong and healthy throughout and swam off once the last line was removed," Kevin Warren, NSRI Gqeberha coxswain, said.
All recovered rope and buoys were secured for disposal.
The NSRI praised the skipper and crew of the Louisa-Claire for their quick action and vital assistance.