Distressed humpback whale tangled up in rope rescued in Queensland

A distressed humpback whale tangled in metres of rope and floats was successfully freed by rescuers after a tense operation caught on camera.

The whale was found on North Stradbroke Island, off the coast of Brisbane, and rescuers were able to free the mammal after a stressful 90 minute battle.

Sea World marine sciences director Trevor Long told Gold Coast Bulletin the rope and floats were most likely dumped by reckless fishermen from southern New South Wales or Victoria .

‘It was very distressed…at times we found it difficult to keep up with the whale,’ Mr Long said.  

The 10 metre long adult humpback weighed an extraordinary 30 tonnes and was found with the rope wrapped around its body

The 10 metre adult humpback weighed an extraordinary 30 tonnes and was found with the rope wrapped around its body.

At times the rescuers had to carefully ride their boat over the whale in order to cut the rope with knives.

The Sea World rescuers were able to remove the rope from around the body and after a few attempts were able to remove the rest of it.

However, they believe there is still a bit of rope left on the whale’s pectoral fine. 

Mr Long commended the efforts of the rescuers saying if the rope wasn’t removed then the whale would have eventually died.

‘If we weren’t able to free this whale…it would have ultimately killed it.’

In addition to the rescue, he said this is the second whale rescue within two weeks and says it’s an issue which will only get worse. 

‘It’s a real issue and it’s going to get worse,’ he told the publication. 

There are groups who inform rescuers if they find sea creatures with ropes caught around them.

There are groups who inform rescuers if they find sea creatures with ropes caught around them.