Whale freed from Granger Bay buoys

The NSRI rescued a humpback whale after it became entangled in rope and floatation buoys.

The NSRI rescued a humpback whale after it became entangled in rope and floatation buoys.

Published Apr 1, 2017

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Cape Town - A humpback whale was rescued on Friday by the SA Whale Disentanglement Network after a long struggle off Granger Bay.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the operation was launched at noon shortly after reports were received of the juvenile whale entangled in rope and floatation buoys.

In a four-hour rescue mission, the whale, which was “weak and appeared to be tired and drifting into the kelp bed along the shoreline” was towed into deeper water, he said.

Rescue swimmers and network members towed the whale before freeing it from the rope and floatation buoys which were entangled around its flippers and tail.

“After all rope was cut free and recovered and the towline was removed, with the whale now free of the entanglement and in deeper water, the network remained on the scene encouraging the whale to swim,” said Lambinon.

The NSRI appealed to boaters to be vigilant around the Granger Bay and Sea Point coastline as the “whale continued to appear weak, tired and lethargic”.

Weekend Argus

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