A whale that became stranded on a sandbar in Wallis Lake, located on the mid north coast of New South Wales, has successfully been refloated by marine animal rescue teams.
Rescue boats are currently working to navigate the whale away from the well-known sandbars and back into the open ocean.
To minimize the risk of startling the whale during its return to sea, the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge may be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic.
The juvenile humpback whale, weighing approximately 12 tonnes, was first spotted swimming beneath the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge on Sunday afternoon before becoming trapped on a sandbar later that evening.
Rescue teams from Sea World traveled from the Gold Coast to collaborate with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), and local Marine Rescue NSW volunteers to facilitate the rescue.
Doug Beckers, acting area manager for NPWS Manning Great Lakes, emphasized the critical role played by the Sea World team in the successful refloating of the whale, which was reported to be in good health.
Initially, the rescuers attempted to scare the whale off the sandbar by approaching it from behind in hopes of prompting it to swim away, but this method was unsuccessful.
Mr. Beckers explained that rescuers then employed a sling tow to pull the whale from the sandbar, although it became lodged on another sandbar shortly thereafter. Fortunately, the second attempt proved effective.
“The crews brought large straps, placed them under the pectoral fins, and connected them to the boat,” he said. “The Sea World vessel was then able to successfully drag it off the shoal.”
On Sunday, the sight of the baby humpback whale swimming around the lakes of Forster and Tuncurry brought joy to locals, visitors, and even some dolphins.
The whale was freed around 3 PM today and is now being guided by marine conservation vessels through the estuary’s sandbars.
“The whale is now swimming freely and is being directed towards the bridge at Forster-Tuncurry, with the hope that it will make its way back to the ocean,” Mr. Beckers noted.
He also thanked the public boat users for maintaining a safe distance from the whale and mentioned that motorists may be asked to assist as well.
“If necessary, we may temporarily close the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge,” he said, recalling a similar incident in 2021 when the noise from bridge traffic disturbed a southern right whale in the estuary.
“We truly appreciate the public’s understanding as we prioritize the welfare of the animal.”
ORRCA spokesperson Jessica Fox expressed her enthusiasm about the successful rescue. “We still remain uncertain about the reasons behind its entry into the bay or the circumstances that led to it,” she stated.
ORRCA has requested that boaters steer clear of the area while rescue operations are in progress, with an exclusion zone established for safety.
“It is crucial that trained professionals conduct these operations, and safety is of utmost importance,” she added.
