A young humpback whale that got tangled in something off the New Jersey coast was freed Friday morning.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said rescuers were able to free the animal shortly before noon, and that it swam away. There was no immediate word on its condition.
The whale was entangled about 2 miles east of the Manasquan Inlet.
The agency had no further details about the rescue, including how the juvenile humpback estimated to be between 2 and 5 years old got trapped.
"Sometimes it takes until we get the gear off the animal to find out exactly what it is," NOAA spokeswoman Maggie Mooney-Seus had said earlier.
The Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Mass., was leading the rescue. The group is a member of NOAA Fisheries Large Whale Disentanglement Network and is experienced and authorized in this type of whale rescue.
Authorities had set up a 300-foot cordon around the whale to keep onlookers away.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said rescuers were able to free the animal shortly before noon, and that it swam away. There was no immediate word on its condition.
The whale was entangled about 2 miles east of the Manasquan Inlet.
The agency had no further details about the rescue, including how the juvenile humpback estimated to be between 2 and 5 years old got trapped.
"Sometimes it takes until we get the gear off the animal to find out exactly what it is," NOAA spokeswoman Maggie Mooney-Seus had said earlier.
The Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Mass., was leading the rescue. The group is a member of NOAA Fisheries Large Whale Disentanglement Network and is experienced and authorized in this type of whale rescue.
Authorities had set up a 300-foot cordon around the whale to keep onlookers away.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
