Rescuers free whale trapped in shark net

Rescuers freed a 23-foot humpback whale today after it became entangled in shark nets off Australia’s east coast.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries shark safety program acting manager Tony Ham said a specialist crew of officers from the department and a marine expert from the Sea World theme park cut free the marine mammal, which was believed to be about one year old.

Ham said the whale, caught in nets near the Gold Coast tourist region of Queensland state, swam off toward the south, shadowed by the rescuers to ensure it didn’t become entangled again.