Humpback whale calf washes up at Umhlanga, South Africa *Photos*

10 October 2011
By Hannah Keal and Noma Bolani

A humpback whale calf has washed up at Grannies’ Pool in Umhlanga, apparently after getting stuck in shark nets.

A crowd of about 100 people has flocked to the promenade to watch as authorities work to pull the dead mammal back to sea.

The KZN Shark Board’s Mike Anderson-Reade suspects the four metre calf got caught in shark nets, and has been dead for some time.

                                              Above: The whale calf is towed back to the shoreline)

Beach goers say the mammal washed up on rocks close to shore at around noon and the tide then pushed it up onto the sand.

                   
A tow rope has been attached to the whale and, with the help of a grader, the animal has been pulled back to the shoreline.

                         Above: Crowds flocked to watch as the whale was pulled back to the shoreline)

Boats will now be used to tow it back out to sea.
                    
Anderson-Reade estimates that they have another two hours, as the tide gets higher, to complete the operation.

(Photos: Hannah Keal)

ecr.co.za/

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