09/06/2025
𝗝𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁!
On Saturday, 7 June, East London Aquarium arranged a local fixed wing aircraft (airborne on a flight) to scan the coastline in an effort to spot a Humpback whale trailing a large flotation buoy that had been reported to NSRI on Friday afternoon.
The whale had last been spotted offshore of Haga Haga, Eastern Cape, heading in the direction of East London.
NSRI East London, NSRI Port Alfred and NSRI Gqeberha had all been placed on alert.
On Saturday following a search the aircraft pilot reported spotting the whale offshore of Gulu.
An NSRI East London team prepared to respond to the scene accompanied by NSRI/SAWDN trained crew.
At 07h55, Saturday, 7 June, the NSRI East London rescue craft Spirit of DHL, accompanied by trained NSRI/SAWDN volunteers, responded towards the scene and following a brief search finding the whale, a juvenile Humpback whale, approximately 7 to 8 meters, about 1.5 nm to 2 nm (nautical miles) offshore of Kidds Beach - about 15 nautical miles from East London.
The whale was found to have fishing rope wrapped around the caudal peduncle (the tail) and trailing a large flotation buoy, moving reasonably freely but slowly, entangled in the fishing rope.
The whale appeared tired and lethargic - most likely caused by trailing the large flotation buoy for some time. Indications are that this whale has been entangled in the fishing rope and gear for a long time.
Using the SAWDN specialised cutting equipment and with the NSRI rescue craft gently approaching the whale the NSRI/SAWDN volunteers initiated cutting wraps of fishing rope from around the caudal peduncle. At the first cut it seemed to our crew onboard our rescue craft that the whale realised that we were there to help.
A total of 4 cuts were made to the fishing rope, using the pole with the hook knife attached and all rope was successfully cut free from the whale.
Once freed of all of the entangled fishing rope the whale dived under the sea surface and although we waited around for quite some time the whale did not surface again for a while. It appears, from the details on the fishing rope, fishing gear and flotation buoy, that the fishing equipment belongs to a foreign fishing vessel that is currently showing up on AIS to be offshore of South America.
Then, as we were preparing to leave the scene, said Geoff, the whale surfaced some distance away from us letting out a spout of air. We returned to the whale - just to double check that we had freed the whale of all of the fishing rope and gear - the whale swam around a bit, letting off a another spout of air and then disappeared under the water again. We departed the scene and returned to base.
When we left the whale was swimming freely and confidently.
Well done to our newest SUPERHEROES!
News release by: SA WHALE DISENTANGLEMENT NETWORK (SAWDN)
