One humpback whale freed, another to rescue

DoC staff free a humpback whale entangled in a rope in the Far North. Photo / DoC

Rescuers' joy at freeing a humpback whale entangled in a rope in the Far North yesterday afternoon was tempered by news of a second humpback entangled in rope in the Bay of Islands.

Department of Conservation (DoC) spokeswoman Carolyn Smith said a tourist boat spotted the second 12-15m whale with a short rope and a plastic buoy entangled near its mouth yesterday morning.

It was last seen around 11am near Moturua Island, and tourist boats had been asked to report any sightings.

A DOC plane this morning left for the island and will be joined by two boats but Ms Smith said weather conditions were not favourable and rescuers might need to turn back.

Detangling expert Mike Morrissey, who helped free the "agitated" 12m humpback whale yesterday, will assist with the rescue.

The 30-tonne whale freed was first spotted entangled in rope and debris in Doubtless Bay on Monday.

Staff were unsuccessful in freeing the whale on Tuesday.

Yesterday, they secured a hook on the rope around the whale, and linked it to a 50m rope attached to five buoys.

DoC biodiversity operations manager Patrick Whaley, who helped with the project, said the whale was "very strong" and would not tire.

Initially, the whale was pulling five buoys, but two hours later rescuers attached the line to a 7m coastguard boat and then another 6m boat.

Mr Morrissey said the whale kept making noise and flapping its tail and would change direction, dive and come up another way.

"Right at the end, it started rolling ... quite a bit of white water. It just kept us on our toes the entire time."

Staff used a curved knife on the end of a long pole to cut the rope.

At 3.30pm, the whale was freed and "took off like a rocket".

It made a big dive, almost pulling the five buoys underwater, as a small rope was still attached to its tail, but it came loose with the pressure.

- NZPA