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Crews Untangle Young Humpback Whale Off Of Cape Cod

PROVINCETOWN (CBS) – A humpback whale was freed off of Cape Cod after becoming entangled in rope and buoys.

The Center for Coastal Studies dispatched its Marine Animal Entanglement Response team to the waters off of Provincetown on Friday when a young wale was found tangled in a rope with the buoys in its mouth.

Officials said the young whale was discovered by whale watchers on board the Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown. The whale was in the company of another whale.

Whale Tangled
A whale swims away after being untangled from ropes. (Image Credit: Center for Coastal Studies)

MAER team members said both whales were "extremely agitated," making the disentanglement process a challenge.

"The whales were moving at high rates of speed and were unpredictable in the direction traveled, highlighting the need for mariners to use caution around entangled whales and report all sightings immediately," the Center for Coastal Studies said.

Crews were able to free the whale from the ropes, and it swam away safely.

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