14/05/2025
A steady hand 🖐️
This picture shows one of the many cuts made by the Large Whale Disentanglement Team in efforts to free a s***m whale near the Isle of Skye last month. The whale was heavily entangled in lengths of rope surrounding its head and body.
The team approached the whale several times and used specialised equipment to cut away many wraps of rope from around the animal. This is no easy task.
S***m whales can dive for hours at a time and move great distances underwater. This animal was frequently diving for 40 minutes at a time. On resurfacing, the support boat would spot the animal and radio its location to the small boat. The rescue team would then approach the whale and use the brief window while it was on the surface to try and cut away the rope.
As if being at sea, approaching a large wild animal, and predicting the Scottish weather weren’t all challenging enough, now the team needs to handle sharp and dangerous equipment with expert care. The team trains frequently to be able to carry out these operations safely.
Help ensure our team can be there for whales in the future here 👉 www.justgiving.com/campaign/lwdt
All donations are gratefully received 💙
📷 Kathleen Macdonald Photography
***mwhale
