Skipper Saves Baby Humpback Whale from Trap Line [Video]

Forty-two-year-old charter boat skipper Joe Brogan was boating in Geraldton, Western Australia, when he jumped at the chance to save a baby humpback whale that had a crayfish trap line tangled around its tail. In less than a minute, he swam up to the troubled calf and cut the rope off with his handy knife. “Don’t try and get it off, mate; just cut the line,” his shipmate called. It doesn’t get more Australian than this.

Unfortunately, humpback whales commonly get tangled in crab pot ropes and floats. Experts advise fishermen to take some basic steps to reduce this problem, such as using shorter lines in shallower water, changing the sizes of the pots so fewer are in the water at a time, and removing the pots when they’re done fishing.

We hope that this baby whale finds its way to safety and reunites with its mom. We’re sure she misses her little calf!

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