An eight-metre humpback whale has been successfully freed after becoming entangled in shark nets off Australia’s Gold Coast during a dramatic rescue operation.
The young whale was discovered trapped near Kurrawa Beach with netting wrapped around its body, limiting its movement and putting its survival at risk.
Specialist teams from the Sea World Foundation and the Marine Animal Release Team responded quickly, spending several hours carefully cutting away the netting while monitoring the whale’s condition.
Rescuers said the whale appeared exhausted but was otherwise healthy. Working from multiple boats, crews gradually removed the entanglement before finally releasing the animal back into open water.
Footage from the scene showed the whale swimming away freely after the last section of netting was removed, bringing the complex rescue mission to a successful end.
The incident comes as thousands of humpback whales migrate along Australia’s east coast each year, increasing the risk of encounters with shark control equipment and fishing gear.
Marine experts are reminding the public to report any entangled whales immediately and keep a safe distance while trained rescue teams respond.
The successful operation highlights the ongoing efforts of wildlife rescuers to protect migrating whales during one of Australia’s busiest marine migration seasons.
