Whale and her calf entangled in shark net off Queensland coast

A whale entangled in a shark net about five days ago with her calf is yet to be fully freed, two of four humpback whales to be entangled in shark nets off the coast of Queensland in recent days.

Dr Olaf Meynecke, who researches marine mammals at Griffith University, said humpback whales were caught in shark nets every year, but this was the first time involving four whales trapped at the same time.

On Wednesday, drone footage captured the moment a mother and calf became trapped in a shark net off Noosa. Meynecke said the footage clearly shows the stressed mother rolling into the net, and “actually wrapping up the calf”.

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That pair were freed on Wednesday night, according to Queensland’s department of primary industries. However, Meynecke said the mother