SEA WORLD RESCUE TEAM PREPARES FOR WHALE SEASON!
Sea World’s Research and Rescue Foundation (SWRRFI) is preparing for the annual Humpback Whale migration by training rescue teams from both Sea World and Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Boating and Fisheries to assist with whale release operations.
Sea World Director of Marine Sciences, Trevor Long said that teams learned how to handle whale entrapments by training with ‘Maby’ – a specially designed replica whale.
“We take Maby out into the Broadwater and wrap him in nets, then we work with our rescue team to release the replica whale. We do this in two different situations, stationary where we re-enact a shark net entrapment, and on the move, where we re-enact an animal towing commercial fishing gear” he said.
Mr Long said that every year between June and November up to 10,000 Humpback Whales travel past the Gold Coast on their way to and from the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef where they calf and mate.
“The population of Humpback Whales is growing by approximately 10% each year. And on their annual journey there is a risk some of these animals may become entrapped in the shark nets along our coast line, so it’s extremely important that our rescue team are well equipped."
