6 Nov 2014

Whale caught in rope off Otago coast

6:44 pm on 6 November 2014

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is appealing for sightings off the Otago coast of a whale entangled in rope.

A whale entangled in rope off the Otago coast.

A whale entangled in rope off the Otago coast. Photo: DOC

The whale was spotted yesterday off Taiaroa Head at the end of Otago peninsula by a crew aboard a wildlife cruise boat.

The 12m-long humpback whale had a rope wrapped across its back behind its blowhole and below its fins.

A DOC spokesperson said it wanted to locate the whale so a specialist staff team could cut the line off it.

It said the whale was likely to be moving south down the Otago-Southland coast at up to 100km per day.

A whale entangled in rope off the Otago coast.

A whale entangled in rope off the Otago coast. Photo: DOC

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