A 12-meter humpback whale made a thank-you gesture to a party of Spanish divers after being rescued from a drift net.
One of the divers characterized the meeting as "incredible," according to The Independent (via Newsbreak).
The humpback whale was observed five miles off the east coast of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, where such sightings are uncommon and have only been confirmed twice previously.
The whale's joyful answer is the ultimate birthday present for Gigi Torras, a 32-year-old marine researcher. Torras was a member of a rescue team.
She described the encounter as "extraordinary." The rescue took place on May 20, Reuters (via Euro News) reported.
According to officials, the tiny whale was discovered fully entangled in a crimson net, unable to even open its mouth. When the Aquarium in Palma de Mallorca learned about the trapped whale, they sprung into action.
ILULISSAT, GREENLAND - AUGUST 04: A humpback whale swims in the Ilulissat Icefjord on August 04, 2019 in Ilulissat, Greenland. A similar whale swallowed a lobster diver in Massachusetts Friday, June 11.
Humpback Whale Thanks Rescuers
Members of the marine department attempted to cut the net from a boat during the initial rescue operations. They discovered, however, that getting closer to the whale was necessary to do it.
Divers from the Albatros and Skualo diving facilities were summoned on May 20. After that, the team dove up to the whale and used knives to break the net.
The whale became a bit frightened and panicked in the first 10 seconds. Bubbles began to shoot up all over the place, Torras recalled. But it didn't take long for the whale to realize that Torras and her colleagues were there to help. The whale eventually relaxed and the diving crew began working from the rear to the front.
She went on to say that the crew continued to cut the net, after which the creature wriggled a little to get free. The rescue mission ended after 45 minutes.
The whale stayed for a while to replenish its strength while four divers kept it company. As it slowly gain back its strength, the whale gave them a "little thank you sign very briefly." When it fully recovered it just swam off.
"It was out of this world. It was incredible," Torras said about the encounter.
Drift nets were banned by the United Nations 30 years ago because they represent a serious hazard to marine life. They float on a cork line and reach depths of 50 feet to catch fish, which are virtually undetectable to marine life.
Drift gillnets have been known to kill a variety of marine animals, including whales, seals, and dolphins, as well as seabirds.
About Whales
Whales may be found in every ocean on the planet, per World Wild Life. This species communicates using a variety of strange and complicated noises. The blue whale may grow over 100 feet long and weigh up to 200 tons, equivalent to 33 elephants.
Whales are warm-blooded creatures that breathe and care for their offspring. A large layer of fat protects them from the chilly ocean, according to Bubbler.
Some whales are called baleen whales because their mouths feature unique bristle-like structures called baleen that draw food out of the water. Other whales, such as beluga and sperm whales, have teeth rather than baleen.
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