A humpback whale and her calf became tangled in a shark net in a frightening close call sparking a desperate late-night rescue off a popular beach.
The drama unfolded near Noosa Main Beach on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday, with crews battling into the night to free the trapped pair.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mother whale and calf tangled in shark nets off Noosa
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The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) confirmed a Shark Control Program contractor was called in and managed to cut the whales loose.
The mother and calf were reportedly freed from the shark net about 11:30pm on Wednesday.
“A humpback whale and calf have been successfully released after becoming entangled in a shark net at Noosa,” a spokesperson said.
Animal welfare groups said the incident shows why shark nets should be urgently removed.
Humane World for Animals Australia described the gear as “useless and destructive,” pointing out this was the second humpback mother and calf caught within days of Queensland’s southern coast.
The group said the Noosa calf was “at serious risk of drowning” and while rescuers managed to cut the pair free, the impact will be long-lasting.
While the group said they are relieved the whales are freed, the ordeal will have long-lasting consequences.
“This event will have a traumatising and lasting impact on these whales,” Humane World for Animals Marine Biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said.
“The struggle and precious energy expended will impact their ability to reach their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean this summer.”
Just days earlier, another mother and calf became entangled at Rainbow Beach and dragged nets more than 100 kilometres to Hervey Bay.
It’s understood disentanglement efforts for that pair are still underway.
Queensland’s Shark Control Program has 27 nets along southeast beaches and 383 drumlines from the New South Wales border north to Cairns.
While designed to reduce the risk of shark attacks, experts say the nets are not barriers and instead entangle and kill a wide range of marine life.
“We’re calling on the Queensland Government to stop pretending that these useless and destructive shark nets benefit public safety,” Chlebeck said.
“They must finally take action and remove shark nets from the state’s waters before we see further tragedies unfold.”
Authorities urged the public not to take matters into their own hands if they spotted any entangled marine life.
“For their own safety, it is dangerous to approach or try to release whales trapped in nets,” DPI said.
“Call the Shark Control Program hotline on 1800 806 891 and let the trained and properly equipped experts do their job.”
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