Whale freed after three hour operation in Jeffreys Bay

Cape Town - A whale entangled in fishing rope lines and floatation buoys was freed following a three-hour operation in Lower Point, Jeffreys Bay on Tuesday.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the whale in difficulty at 14:45 that afternoon, South African Whale Disentanglement Network spokesperson Craig Lambinon said in a statement on Wednesday.

Network volunteers with specialised cutting equipment were dispatched and found the adult humpback whale with rope and floatation buoys around its tail stock.

“The whale, despite having freedom of movement, was found to be heavily entangled. In a difficult and delicate disentanglement operation the rope lines around the tail stock were cut using… specialised cutting equipment,” Lambinon said.

“After all rope and floatation buoys were cut free and recovered and the whale regained natural movement and appeared to be healthy, the SAWDN are satisfied that the whale will survive after witnessing the whale swimming off strongly.”

The operation was completed at 17:30.