This is the second endangered cetacean that authorities and people have safeguarded in the last week.
Whales can get entangled in these nets, mostly used for industrial fishing, during their navigation from Antarctica to the waters of the Colombian Pacific.
In the Utría National Natural Park, after more than six hours of continuous work and synergy conducted by the Colombian Navy, National Natural Parks and the Regional Autonomous Corporation for Sustainable Development of the department of Chocó – Codechocó, together with inhabitants of the people of the village of El Valle and the municipality of Bahía Solano, it was possible the rescue of a whale that had a trammel entangled in its tail, which, although it did not prevent its navigability, it hurt its body.
Members of the productive groups of transporters who were passing through the area saw that the cetacean had a net entangled and notified the Colombian Navy, which moved to the area with the staff of the different institutions to look for the whale and help it. Initially, it was believed that they were two entangled whales, since another cetacean was accompanying her, however, later it could be determined that it was only one that had the trammel.
On this occasion, the fishermen and divers of a private company that participated in the maneuver, installed some buoys to the trammel so that it would detach of the mammal's body also preventing it from sinking. Although the whale was disoriented, she was always accompanied by the other cetacean during the process. Gradually and carefully, it was possible to remove the trammel from its tail and free it.
It is important to remember that, last Tuesday, August 20th, in the same area, another whale was rescued, as it was in the same way trapped in such a kind of net.
From mid-July to November, humpback whales, after sailing about 8,500 kilometers, arrive in groups in the warm waters of the Colombian Pacific to mate and have their young.
Source: Press – Navy of Colombia
