On the urgent morning of 28 June, the SAWDN (The SA Whale Disentanglement Network) received a distressing report of a Southern Right whale in a dire situation near the picturesque shores of Walker Bay in Hermanus.
The highly skilled NSRI Hermanus rescue team swiftly arrived on the scene at 9:37 a.m., and the Rescue 17 Alpha craft was deployed to conduct a thorough assessment. The whale was found entangled in a tuna monofilament long line, with a section embedded in its flesh.
The team used specialised cutting equipment to ensure the whale was released from this mobility-restrictive snare, and a large section of the line was successfully removed. However, the whale dived underneath the water and did not breach again after the whale could move more freely.
A local whale charter vessel reported a sighting of the whale in question in another region; the NSRI Hermanus was once again launched to cut the remaining line. It was indicated that about 90% of the line was removed, with the remaining 10% staying in place due to the whale again disappearing under the surface.
WATCH: NSRI rescues whale that was entangled in Hermanus, Western Cape. pic.twitter.com/fqnOstIYaC
— Reginald Hargreaves (@Xolile_Mtembu) July 3, 2024
