Australians save humpback whale - now facing punishment
A Buckle whale is in danger of drowning near the coast in Queensland, Australia. Four young Australians noticed the distressing situation of the animal - and intervened. For their independent action, they now face consequences.
In Australia, a group of young people saved a buckle whale from drowning - and now risk legal consequences along with a hefty fine. The whale had become so entangled in a net at Marcoola Beach in the tropical state of Queensland that it could barely move. Whales are mammals, they have no gills and must regularly surface at the water's surface to breathe.
Four young Australians, who wanted to do yoga at the beach, discovered the distressed marine mammal and called the authorities, as reported by the Australian ABC in reference to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF). However, after an hour and no rescue teams had arrived, the group reportedly took matters into their own hands.
With their paddleboards, the four jumped into the water and attempted to cut through the net with a knife. One rescuer, Brenton Owens, stated that the whale was completely entangled in two layers of netting. "He was at the surface, but he wasn't moving." Their top priority was to remove netting that covered the whale's eye and calm the animal. Eventually, the group managed to free the whale, which swam away immediately.
State prohibits rescue actions - for safety
The DAF confirmed that an emergency call about a distressed whale had been received at the appropriate hotline in the early morning. However, the whale had already been freed when the dispatched expert team arrived at the beach. According to Queensland law, individuals who do not maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from a whale in the sea face up to 19,300 Australian Dollars (12,000 Euro) in fines - unless there is a "reasonable excuse." A 20-meter distance must also be maintained from nets. The maximum fine for non-compliance is approximately 19,800 Euro.
A DAF spokesperson stated that the ministry was considering launching an investigation into possible violations of these laws following the latest incident. "We remind the public that they should not approach or attempt to free entangled whales for their own safety," the spokesperson emphasized.
"Humpback whales are massive creatures, exceptionally heavy, and in distress they behave unpredictably," quoted the ABC Naomi Gardiner, a marine biology professor at James Cook University. The dorsal fin alone can be up to five meters long and weigh up to a ton. Stressed whales could render humans unconscious or even kill them with a single body movement, warned the expert.
Even though the whale was successfully rescued by the courageous Australians, their actions may potentially lead to penalties under Australia's Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. International guidelines advocate for a hands-off approach during whale rescues due to the animals' potential hazardous behavior.
