bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Wildlife rescue teams scoured Australia’s east coast on Monday to find and free a distressed humpback whale tangled in a rope.
Aerial footage showed the whale swimming south of Sydney Harbour trailing a rope attached to a floating buoy.
“It makes it more difficult for the whale to dive,” said Pip Jacobs from whale rescue group ORRCA.
“It’s tiring for the whale, which is already in a state of distress being tangled.”
The whale was about eight metres (25 feet) long, Jacobs said, indicating it was still “quite young”.
The rope appeared to be tangled around the whale’s left pectoral fin, she said.
“The way it is moving is quite erratic,” Jacobs said.
“It’s moving south, which is unusual. They should be heading north as part of their migration.”
Teams of volunteers and wildlife rescue experts were searching the coastline to pinpoint the whale’s location, she said.
The best-case scenario is we have a successful disentanglement. The worst-case scenario is the whale can’t feed or swim
Pip Jacobs, ORRCA whale rescue group spokeswoman
But efforts had been hindered by choppy waters and blustery winds.
“If conditions allow, and we have eyes on the whale, the best-case scenario is we have a successful disentanglement,” she said.
“If they are dragging gear it hinders their ability to swim freely. The worst-case scenario is the whale can’t feed or swim.”


Thai court clears Australian writer after Malaysian defamation case withdrawn

Why the growing network of American MQ-9 drones is a challenge for China

Australian police arrest man, recover stolen Egyptian artefacts after museum heist

China goes visa-free for UK, Canada; Rubio, Wang Yi in Munich: 5 weekend reads you missed

Australia

Distressed humpback whale tangled in rope near Australia’s Sydney Harbour

A distressed humpback whale is seen tangled in a rope swimming south of Sydney Harbour. Photo/Clay Sweetman/ORRCA/AFP

‘Cannibalised by Aukus’: is Australia sacrificing defence for future submarines?

US Navy officers stand guard aboard an American submarine docked in Western Australia on February 26. Photo: AFP

Australia’s Chief of Defence Force Admiral David Johnston attends the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on May 31. Photo: AP

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signalled his government will increase defence spending. Photo: Reuters

A Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate in the Indian Ocean. Photo: Captain Daniel Glazier

Angered by Trump’s ‘unjustified’ tariffs, Australia chases new trade deals

Australia has been slugged with a blanket 10 per cent tariff on goods exported to the US. Photo: Xinhua

What’s in the air? Australian state reels from deluge of dust

A dust storm from drought-stricken South Australia hit coastal New South Wales on Tuesday morning. Photo: X/@fictillius

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) visits the flood affected region of Taree in New South Wales on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Australia’s Albanese says compromise on biosecurity ‘not worth it’ ahead of Trump talks

A shopper looks at Australian beef products for sale at a supermarket in Sydney. Photo: AFP

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) takes a selfie with a resident during a visit to the flood-affected region of Taree, New South Wales, on May 27. Photo: EPA-EFE

News

Asia

Australasia

Rescue teams are battling challenging conditions to save the mammal tangled in a rope attached to a buoy.


Conservation

Sydney

Animals

Distressed humpback whale tangled in rope near Australia’s Sydney Harbour

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Rescue teams are battling challenging conditions to save the mammal tangled in a rope attached to a buoy.

Rescue teams are battling challenging conditions to save the mammal tangled in a rope attached to a buoy.