WHALE RESCUED OFF THE MID NORTH COAST

A 12-metre humpback whale has been rescued off the mid north coast, after first being spotted 80 kilometres away yesterday, tangled in rope.

The delicate operation continued off Port Macquarie today, with the mammal eventually freed from what appeared to be a fishing trap.

“Unfortunately then the whale maybe in a confused state swam straight towards the shore and we’ve been standing guard now on the headland for a couple of hours trying to keep an eye out for where it has gone,” Andy Marshall from NSW Parks and Wildlife said.

Wildlife experts say the whale showed signs it may have been tangled for some time.

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