‘Severely entangled’ humpback whale takes three days to free, rescue video shows

After days of careful work, rescuers released a humpback whale entangled in fishing gear off the coast of Canada.

The rescue operation took place near Hartley Bay, a village on the shores of British Columbia, according to an Aug. 11 news release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The marine mammal was found “severely entangled” in fishing equipment, which included long sections of thick rope and buoys, video footage shows.

“The team could see that the animal’s health was being impacted by the gear, which was likely impeding its ability to forage,” the release said.

Over the course of three days, the rescue team worked to cut away the snarled ropes, with video capturing their approach to the whale in a small boat.

“This complex operation was successful thanks to the expertise and collaborative efforts between our team, Gitga’at First Nation, and the North Coast Cetacean Research Society,” the release said.

Entanglements can inflict severe injuries on whales such as lacerations and infections, and may ultimately lead to drowning or starvation as whales struggle to breathe and feed while ensnared, according to the International Whaling Commission.

Worldwide, an estimated 300,000 cetaceans — which include whales and dolphins — die every year as a result of entanglements in fishing gear and ocean trash, according to the Marine Mammal Center, a nonprofit.

In the U.S., entanglements are considered the leading cause of large whale deaths.

This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 1:18 PM with the headline "‘Severely entangled’ humpback whale takes three days to free, rescue video shows."