Panicked whale vanishes as storms close in

The whale soon after it became entangled in the crayfishing equipment. Picture / Ann McCaw

A humpback whale entangled in craypot lines thrashed around for four hours trying to free itself before slowly swimming on up the coast.

The Department of Conservation's ranger at Kaikoura, Mike Morrissey, said the animal would have panicked once entangled and done everything it could to get free.

"They're very sensitive to anything on their skin, if you even touch one it will react," he said.

The adult whale had now disappeared, as stormy weather closed in yesterday around the Kaikoura coast where it was last seen.

"Whether it's gone east or west we don't know. It could be unseen for weeks but then pop up."

A team based at Kaikoura spent four hours in inflatable boats trying to disentangle the whale on Sunday, without success.

A search for it the next day was also unsuccessful.

The Department of Conservation had received dozens of calls and offers of help.

"Boats, planes, you name it," Mr Morrissey said, "but there are huge seas and strong winds. You wouldn't see any whales out there."

The fisherman whose craypot equipment, including rope, buoys and a craypot weighing around 35kg, were wrapped round the whale was at DoC's Kaikoura area office when members of the rescue team returned from their attempt to free it.

He had been telephoned by a couple who first spotted the whale and who notified DoC.

"I've yet to meet a fisherman that would not feel sorry about it, and this joker was really concerned," said Mr Morrissey.

Craypot fishermen on the Kaikoura coast had "done everything that was asked of them", including using shortened ropes, to lessen the likelihood of a whale becoming entangled in crayfishing equipment.

But humpbacks were inquisitive and if they saw floats on the surface would rub up against them.

The department would "look at the practicalities" if the whale was found.

"It could survive like this for months but if it was a cow, calving could present some problems," Mr Morrissey said.

"If it could be got to, the department is keen to see what can be done once the information is assessed."


MIGHTY JOURNEY

* The whale's location is not known, but it was almost certainly headed north on its annual migration from Antarctica feeding grounds to breeding grounds near Tonga.

* One estimate says humpbacks can travel up to 100km in a day.