Anxious moment rescuers try to free a huge humpback whale caught in shark nets – getting right up beside the panicked mammal to save it
Experts are working to free a whale caught in a shark net off the Gouekus, reigniting calls to remove the devices during the migration season.
It’s the first entanglement so far this year as whales head north to warmer waters.
Maar Queensland typically sees a number of such incidents each migration season, and conservation groups have long demanded shark control nets be removed while whales are passing through.
A humpback whale has gotten caught on shark nets off Coolangatta on the Gold Coast Wednesday morning
The government’s animal release team is working to free the animal from the net off Coolangatta, with the help of Sea World experts.
Sea Shepherd Australia said shark nets have taken a heavy toll on whales over the past decade.
'Sedert 2011, ten minste 49 whales have been caught in these shark nets and on drumlines,’ the group’s shark campaigner Jonathan Clark said on Wednesday.
Sea Shepherd is advocating for less destructive forms of shark control, such as drones.
NSW already removes shark nets to protect whales during their migration, and Sea Shephed says Queensland must immediately do the same.
Queensland government’s animal release team and Sea World rescuers have been working to free the animal
This is the first whale entanglement in the devices this year as whales head north for warmer waters during migration season
