A humpback whale calf was freed from more than 150 metres of rope by National Parks and Wildlife crews off Bermagui, on the Far South Coast, on Tuesday afternoon.
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Three crews had been monitoring the entangled calf – which was traveling south with its mother – since it was sighted by a helicopter crew off Depot Beach, in the Murramarang National Park, at noon on Monday.
National Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Sarah Scroope said the calf was cut free from most of the rope between 5pm and 6pm on Tuesday.
“It is now free and swimming with its mum,” Ms Scroope said.
“Crews are now returning to shore and will reassess the whale in the morning.”
Ms Scroope said it was getting too dangerous to get the remaining bit of rope removed from the calf, however she said 90 per cent was removed.
“The calf and the mother were still happy but the calf was beginning to show signs of becoming distressed,” she said.
“The rest of the rope is through its mouth and wrapped around its head.
“In this case, that was the hardest bit to free.”
Earlier on Tuesday, rescuers described how they were likely to attach floating buoys to the calf to prevent it diving, before attempting to cut it free.
Specialist whale entanglement crews went to assess the calf when it was tangled in nylon rope and floats off Narooma.
Rescue crews from Ulladulla and Merimbula also went to the scene.
National Parks and Wildlife Service team leader Lawrence Orel told Fairfax Media he had had overseen similar rescue efforts elsewhere.
“We want to assure people that we are keen to assist the animal, but that the safety of everyone is paramount,” Mr Orel said.
“It can’t happen until both animals are calm enough and that usually happens when they are exhausted and tired out.”
The first step was, ironically, to attach more floating buoys, which slowed the animals down and prevented them from diving, he said.
Once the mother was calm enough, crews in rubber boats could approach and use cutting hooks to free the whale.
“We are going to need to pay attention to the mother as they are usually very protective,” he said.
The NPWS had previously identified the tangled whale as a juvenile humpback.
They said the whale was probably born in winter in Queenland and was now making its way south, back to Antarctica.
