Rescuers Save ‘Hog-Tied’ Humpback Whale Tangled In Crab Pot

Glacier Bay, Alaska – This month, a humpback whale “hog-tied” in a crab pot and ropes was rescued by wildlife officials in Alaska. According to the National Park Service, the report about a whale who “was trailing two buoys, making unusual sounds and having trouble moving freely,” was received on October 10.

By the time the whale’s predicament was discovered, several days had passed and it was clear that time was of the essence to save its life. The rescuers had insight about the day the whale got tangled, and the specifics of what it was tangled in because they were able to make contact with the owner of the gear.

According to the release, the whale was carrying a 300-pound crab pot with 450 feet of heavy-duty line causing its body to curve.

Dr. Fred Sharpe, a highly skilled whale disentanglement expert from the Alaska Whale Foundation, flew to the area and joined the rescue team as they set out to free the whale from the ropes.

With the help of drones and a seaplane, the whale was spotted near Pleasant Island. The release recounted situation:

The whale still had limited mobility and was swimming in clockwise circles. It was making 7-9 minute dives and was at the surface for only about 30 seconds. The footage from the drone soon revealed why. The whale had a loop of line through its mouth that led to a large, heavy glob of tangled lines at its tail. In effect, the whale was hog-tied, its body bent sharply to the side as it swam in a predictable clockwise circle each time it came up.

Using an inflatable boat, the team carefully approached the whale and used a specially designed knife mounted on a very long pole to cut the ropes. The situation was said to be “challenging.”

It took all day to free the whale from the ropes and pot, but finally, the team was met with success. The park service writes:

The whale’s life was no longer threatened by the entanglement and it was free to move! In fact, after the team made the last cut, the whale disappeared, which the team took as a good sign that it was no longer hampered by the lines and could rapidly swim away.

With the help of photos, experts later identified the whale as SEAK-5490, a 3-4-year-old juvenile whale.

If you see a stranded, injured, entangled or dead marine mammal in Alaska, immediately call the statewide 24-hour stranding hotline at 877-925-7773 or call the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF channel 16.

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