Humpback whale rescued from shark net in Australia
A humpback whale and her calf have managed to escape after becoming entangled in a shark net off the coast of Queensland..
Humpback whales spend the austral summer in Antarctica before migrating north during the winter months to breed and give birth in warmer waters. Their migration route takes them along the east or west coasts of Australia.
Shark nets regularly entangle other marine life. Since 2001, 82 humpbacks have become trapped in the nets.
Local conservationists have called for the nets to be removed during the whales' migration season now that alternatives, such as using drones, offer a less invasive but successful way of monitoring shark movements.
Related News
Toxic tides, troubled whales: the toll of chemical pollution
In last week's blog, we examined the challenges whales and dolphins face as they travel the ocean, shedding light on the human-made hurdles they navigate....
Breaking barriers for whales and dolphins at the Convention of Migratory Species
Many species of whales, dolphins and porpoises undertake long journeys, encountering human-made obstacles along the way. Danger lurks in various forms from fishing nets to harpoons,...
