In a challenging operation on Wednesday, teams of sea rescuers and wildlife specialists in Poland managed to successfully release a whale entrapped in fishing nets near a renowned resort on the Baltic Sea. The intricate process, conducted near the popular beach destination of Miedzyzdroje, where the animal was spotted earlier in the day, took approximately an hour of careful effort.
The team, led by conservation organization WWF Poland’s representative Konrad Wrzecionkowski, expressed that the encounter left a strong positive impression yet acknowledged the inherent risks involved. He emphasized the need for a respectful approach to such large marine creatures, pointing out the danger posed by the whale’s potential movement. “If it decided to move its tail, we could all end up in the water,” he noted.
During the freeing process, the whale appeared to realize the team was there to help, and the rescue progressed more smoothly as the nets loosened. Once freed, the whale was able to swim away into the open sea. The operation utilized boathooks with long poles instead of knives to untangle the nets, minimizing any risk of injuring the creature.
While whales typically inhabit the expansive waters of the oceans, occasionally, they are known to venture into the Baltic Sea from the Atlantic Ocean via the Danish Straits. Rescuers are hopeful that this particular whale will make its way back to the Atlantic, as the Baltic Sea’s environment is not ideal for sustaining whale life.
