A young humpback whale has become entangled in ropes, leading to a multi-state rescue mission along the NSW and Victorian coasts. The distressed calf, separated from its mother, bears deep cuts and scars along its body, indicating prolonged entanglement. The Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) received the first report of the entangled whale off Tathra on January 31. The whale was next seen more than 200 kilometers north, off the coast of Jervis Bay, on February 4. It was then spotted again off Refuge Cove, on the eastern side of Wilsons Promontory National Park, on the Victorian side of the border and heading south. The young whale appears to be just leaving its mother, which is unusual for this time of year in Australian waters. The whale is showing signs of decline in body condition, likely due to the entanglement, and is seemingly underweight, making it difficult to determine its age. A specialized whale entanglement team would be required to free the animal if found. Disentanglement is a challenging and dangerous task, as humpback whales can weigh up to 40 tonnes and are under stress. The ongoing search has covered a vast area, and the public is urged to report any sightings to the DEECA Emergency Whale and Dolphin Rescue Hotline or ORRCA. The presence of orcas, which prey on juvenile humpback whales, adds to the urgency of the situation. The Captain Paul Watson Foundation has been helping efforts to find the humpback and has urged anyone who has seen the whale to contact authorities. The incident highlights the global problem of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, known as ghost nets, which directly impact marine life such as whales.
