Australia: Humpback whale entangled in ropes

World

Australia: Humpback whale entangled in ropes

Close

A humpback whale became entangled in ropes off the coast of western Australia.

18 May,2011 09:18 pm

Television footage shot on Wednesday shows the 11 metre humpback moving through the water with ropes from a crayfish pot wrapped around its body.Officials from the Department of Environment and Conservation have attached a satellite tracking device to the trailing ropes so the mammal can be followed and freed once weather permits.Untangling the whale could be a difficult operation as divers cannot be used. A small boat will pull alongside the mammal so workers can reach the ropes. Senior wildlife officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation in Perth, Doug Coughran said, Its very important that we take it at a steady pace.The whale has the rope across its pectoral fin and around its body with approximately 10 metres (32 feet) trailing behind it.There are fears if the ropes are not removed the whale might eventually die.