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Rescuers Save Entangled Whale Off Cape Cod

PROVINCETOWN (AP) — A Massachusetts marine science center says it has disentangled a humpback whale off of Cape Cod.

The Center for Coastal Studies says its Marine Animal Entanglement Response team disentangled the whale off Ballston Beach in Truro.

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Responders from the Center for Coastal Studies work to free the entangled whale. (CCS image, NOAA permit #18786)

The team was conducting a research survey on Tuesday when they came across a whale that was stuck in fishing gear about 2 miles off the beach.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gave the team authorization to attempt the disentanglement.

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An underwater view of the entangled whale. (CCS image, NOAA permit #18786)

The animal swam away when it was released. The team says it appeared to be in good condition.

Whales are experiencing a year of high mortality off of New England and Canada. Researchers say right whales, in particular, have experienced more deaths than typical.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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