Humpback whale caught in prawn traps rescued near Powell River, B.C.
Juvenile humpback caught in 50 prawn traps and rope was facing sure death
A young humpback whale has a new lease on life after fisheries officers worked for hours to cut away a massive entanglement of prawn traps and ropes near Powell River, B.C. on Sunday night.
Boaters alerted Fisheries and Oceans Canada after spotting the distressed 500-kilogram juvenile male, which was caught in 50 prawn traps and ropes which were anchored to the ocean floor.
Video shot by the whale's rescuers show numerous ropes wrapped around its tail, body and fins, as well as inside its mouth. A number of wounds are also visible along its body and tail, presumably from struggling to get free.
After establishing the extent of the entanglement, the three-man rescue team began cutting away the rope in the head area first, then worked towards the tail to ensure the whale wasn't able to swim away until completely free of all ropes.
