The winter whale migration to South Australian waters is under way according to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) whose expert marine teams have been brushing up on rescue skills.
The NPWS said Marine Parks Rangers had been practising whale disentanglement methods as hundreds of whales move through the area.
The Service said it had two specialist whale disentanglement teams that would respond to incidents in their corresponding regional areas.
It said the western team recently completed its annual training at Venus Bay in preparation for whales migrating into the Great Australian Bight.
Senior Ranger for the NPWS, Nikki Zanardo said that each year the team was called out to help whales and other marine animals that had become entangled, with nets and ropes the most common threats.
“Whale rescue attempts are actually quite dangerous as we’re working with very big, powerful and likely stressed animals,” Ms Zanardo said.
“It’s really important that staff are well prepared by undertaking regular training,” she said.
Ms Zanardo said disentanglement was a complex and laborious process which could take many hours.
“Our ability to free the animal is highly dependent on the animal’s location, weather conditions and the entanglement itself,” she said.
“The team aims to keep dry and carry out the disentanglement from a boat alongside the animal.”
Ms Zanardo said this was the best method to help large humpback or southern right whales.
Marine Coordinator for the Western Eyre region of the NPWS, Dirk Holman said direct intervention was the best way to help entangled whales.
“We use a drone to fly over the whale to get a better understanding of the entanglement,” Mr Holman said.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any mammal incidents to the NPWS on 0427 556 676.
