Rescuers in Australia were able to save a humpback whale after becoming stranded on a sandbar during its migration.
The 10-ton marine giant was freed and guided back into the ocean off Forster, New South Wales, after becoming trapped in shallow waters in a n urgent and complex rescue operation.
Humpback whales typically migrate along Australia’s east coast between June and November, traveling from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef, but one individual appeared to have set off far too early.
The juvenile humpback had entered the Coolongolook River on April 13th, before becoming stuck on a sandbar where it was unable to return to deeper water. It wasn’t until the following day that rescuers were able to free the animal.
A major rescue operation was launched involving the Sea World Foundation, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia, (ORRCA) and the Forster Dive Centre.
Specialist teams worked together using heavy-duty slings placed beneath the whale’s pectoral fins to carefully tow the exhausted animal off the initial sandbank and into deeper water.
Video shows the extraordinary moment the whale was lifted into the main channel, where it was finally able to swim free.
“We believe the whale travelled into the Foster area and due to misadventure become stranded on the sandbank which was in a shallow stretch of the river,” said Sea World Foundation Head of Marine Sciences Wayne Phillips.
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“Despite the ordeal, the whale is in a good condition with some minor skin issues from being in the sun, and while it remains in the Wallis Lake area, we are hopeful it will now be able to navigate its way back out to the open ocean.”
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