NSW Maritime<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Rescuers in rubber boats tried to slow the whale down by attaching orange floats, increasing its resistance through the water. Once they got close enough, they used specialized cutting equipment \u2013 blades attached to poles \u2013 to cut it free. <\/p>\n
\u201cOnce it was cut free, it certainly took off free swimming, and really looked fantastic,\u201d said Ben Khan, area manager for New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service. <\/p>\n
Humpback whales migrate past Sydney on a route known as the \u201chumpback highway,\u201d said wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta. Along the way, sometimes they get caught up in fishing gear. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe disentanglement team have done an undoubtedly amazing job. It\u2019s a very dangerous task and one that\u2019s very unpredictable,\u201d said Pirotta. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery single whale entanglement is different, and unfortunately, whale entanglement happens globally, but we tend to see it here in Australia annually when we have humpback whales in our waters migrating,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
The whole operation took place in the middle of one of the main thoroughfares through Sydney Harbour, where ferries regularly cross from Circular Quay to Manly. <\/p>\n
Authorities set up an exclusion zone, warning vessels to stay away, but there was no impact on cross-harbor commutes, according to government officials. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe managed to do the whole operation without any disruption to passenger services and timetable ferries, which is an excellent outcome as well,\u201d said Shane Davey from NSW Maritime. <\/p>\n
After it was freed, the whale was seen swimming south, out of the harbor. <\/p>\n
\u201cNow that it has been disentangled, hopefully it continues south,\u201d said Davey. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This post appeared first on cnn.com<\/div>\n
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