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Rescue Team Successfully Frees North Atlantic Right Whale Entangled in St. Lawrence River

Published Jul 12, 2024 at 4:00am

A young North Atlantic right whale entangled in fishing gear near Rimouski, Quebec, has been successfully freed by the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, announced the federal Fisheries Department.

The rescue operation, which took place on Wednesday, managed to remove most of the hindering rope from the whale. Efforts to disentangle the animal began over two weeks ago after it was initially spotted on June 22 off New Brunswick's coast. Fisheries and Oceans Canada utilized boats, aircraft, and a GPS beacon attached to the rope to relocate the whale on Wednesday. According to the New England Aquarium, the whale is believed to be a female calf born in 2023 to a whale named "War." The North Atlantic right whale is critically endangered, with an estimated global population of around 360 individuals, as reported by US conservation authorities.