Michael Fishbach, Co-Founder of The Great Whale Conservancy (GWC) and other rescuers saved a trapped humpback whale on the coast of Mexico.
After being freed, the whale flapped around for over an hour for joy. The humpback is estimated to weigh 50 tons.
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As Reported By The Daily Mail:
A humpback whale which was freed from almost certain death by three men off the coast of California repaid the favour to its rescuers with a breathtaking display of breaches and dives. The amazing hour-long performance was caught on camera moments after the creature was cut free from fishing nets.When the boat came across the whale it was trapped with its tail and flippers hopelessly entangled in the nets.The whale watchers first thought the humpback was already dead as it was floating on top of the water.
But then it let out a loud breath through its blow hole. Michael Fishbach decided the best thing to do was to get into the water and snorkel alongside the stricken whale. He said: ‘As I swam alongside the animal our eyes met.
‘There were no words we could share but I wanted to let the whale know that we were there to help.
‘It took some effort to stay focused given the great emotion of the moment.
‘The sight of this large and beautiful creature trapped and so close to death was almost overwhelming.
‘I must admit I was a bit scared because I knew the whale was frightened and fatigued but could still kill me with one panicked movement.’
He said the whale’s tail was so entangled that it was weighed down by about 15ft. Michael got back on the boat and tried to cut the net off the whale with a small knife. The trio managed to free one of the fins but the whale sensed freedom and swam away, pulling the boat with it. But eventually it surfaced again and more net was cut away.
SOURCE: Daily Mail
Click the next page to see more pictures of the whale.
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Michael and Heather Fishbach, their son, Gaelan, a couple of friends and the boat driver enjoy half an hour of breeching and tail-flipping by Valentina, the humpback whale they freed from nets near Loreto, Baja, California.
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The humpback whale was caught in 12 x 200 feet of shark net that was illegally placed in the National Marine Park, a protected area in the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Baja, Mexico.
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Michael Fishbach and his encounter with the humpback whale.
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The humpback whale says thank you to its rescuers after being freed from a nylon rope.
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The humpback whale says thank you to its rescuers after being freed from a nylon rope.
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The humpback whale says thank you to its rescuers after being freed from a nylon rope.
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The humpback whale says thank you to its rescuers after being freed from a nylon rope.
