A mother humpback whale remained by its offspring’s side as rescuers freed the calf’s tail which had been entangled in a shark net. Using specialised cutting equipment, workers from Sea World Australia, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol worked together to free the fourmetre calf who was trapped off the coast of Coolangatta Beach.

A spokesman for the fisheries told ABC the mother had “pushed into the nets slightly to help keep the calf up on the surface.”

After workers cut away the mesh, the pair swam away to the South Pacific Ocean in good condition.

The incident has reignited debates over shark nets used by state governments as a preventative measure.

Credit: Sea World Australia


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