Rare whale sightings and rescues across the globe

Rescue teams in Poland and South Africa bravely freed entangled whales. Near Międzyzdroje, Poland, responders worked from an inflatable boat to cut away fishing nets from a 32-foot humpback whale, which then calmly swam to safety. In South Africa, a young humpback was rescued from lines anchoring it to the seafloor near Miller’s Point, later reuniting with a larger whale nearby.

Take a look at the stories.

Humpback whales are traveling thousands of miles to cooler waters as summer approaches. Photo by Connor Dugan on Unsplash

NO. 1: FIRST BABY HUMPBACK WHALE THIS YEAR SEEN OFF WASHINGTON ISLAND. SEE IT SWIM WITH MOM

Humpback whales travel thousands of miles every year during migration seasons. | Published April 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner

A young humpback whale entangled in fishing gear was recently rescued off the coast of South Africa, video footage shows. Google Street View © Oct. 2023

NO. 2: WHALE WAS WRAPPED IN FISHING LINES AND STUCK TO SEAFLOOR. SEE THE HEARTWARMING RESCUE

The animal’s mother stayed by its side throughout the rescue, according to a South Africa nonprofit. | Published September 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brendan Rascius

Researchers spotted an extremely rare whale Nov. 17 off the coast of New Jersey, according to a Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center Facebook post. Screengrab from Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center Facebook post

NO. 3: ‘ENORMOUS’ RARE CREATURE WITH ‘STOCKY BLACK BODY’ SPOTTED OFF NJ COAST, EXPERTS SAY

Experts say there are about 370 of the species left. | Published November 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Natalie Demaree

An entangled and “exhausted” humpback whale was recently rescued off the coast of the United Kingdom, video footage shows. Photo from Silas Baisch, UnSplash

NO. 4: ENTANGLED WHALE RESCUED AFTER ‘DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS’ MISSION OFF UK, VIDEO SHOWS

After being freed, “it began to swim and drive, showing all the great behavior we hope to see in a humpback,” an official said. | Published February 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brendan Rascius

An entangled humpback whale was recently rescued in the Baltic Sea, video footage shows. Photo from Sebstian Kluska

NO. 5: 32-FOOT WHALE WAS ENTANGLED IN NETS OFF POLAND. THEN RESCUERS STEPPED IN, VIDEO SHOWS

The marine mammals are rarely seen in the area. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brendan Rascius

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.