Whale stays to say thank you

HAPPY HUMPBACK: A South African Whale Disentanglement Network volunteer participating in Sunday's whale rescue in False Bay. Photo: Courtesy of the NSRI

HAPPY HUMPBACK: A South African Whale Disentanglement Network volunteer participating in Sunday's whale rescue in False Bay. Photo: Courtesy of the NSRI

Published Aug 30, 2016

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A WHALE rescued from being entangled did the most extraordinary thing moments later… the animal swam up to the volunteers, rested its head on the boat, and stayed there for 20 minutes.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) described the whale’s reaction after its rescue from a life-threatening entanglement with rope and buoys off Cape Point as a “surreal and an emotional moment”.

Before its rescue, the 9m-long adult male Humpback had been entangled in rope and floatation buoys in the area of Rocky Banks, offshore at Cape Point, said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.

It had been heading slowly in the direction of Gordon’s Bay when South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) volunteers started their rescue operation five nautical miles offshore at Smitswinkel Bay in False Bay on Sunday. Two NSRI Simon’s Town sea rescue craft were involved in the rescue, which started at 9.34am, and ended at 3.54pm, with the rope and floatation buoy cut, removed and recovered.

Some of the NSRI’s specialised disentanglement equipment was damaged.

“Once all ropes and the floatation buoy were removed, in a most incredible reaction from the animal, the whale swam right up alongside the sea rescue craft, almost hugging the rescue boat (all motors had been switched off) and he gently placed his head on the gunnel of the sea rescue craft.

“The whale remained there for almost 20 minutes seemingly staring at his rescuers. All involved described a surreal and emotional moment shared between the SAWDN volunteer team and this beautiful animal. The whale then swam off,” said Lambinon.

He said SAWDN was formed in 2006 to deal with increased whale entanglements around the South African coastline. Its formation was in line with similar globally established disentanglement networks.

Spearheaded by the Department of Environmental Affairs Oceans and Coasts, SAWDN is part of a global initiative dealing with entanglements.

Its volunteers are from the department, NSRI, Police Dive Unit, Dolphin Action and Protection Group (DAPG), Natal Sharks Board, Marine Environmental groups, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Aquatic and Marine organisations and various volunteer animal rescue organisations around the coast.

Fishing companies regularly volunteer their fishing boats and crews to assist SAWDN, while information, skills, experience and techniques are shared between all of the whale disentanglement networks globally.

Its equipment is designed and made in the US and 
Australia. [email protected]

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