Trapped-and-released whale euthanized in Norway due to severe injuries

OSLO, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) — A humpback whale entangled in fishing gear off Norway’s Lofoten Islands was euthanized due to severe injuries, the country’s Directorate of Fisheries said on Thursday.
The tragic incident began on Tuesday when the whale got stuck in fishing equipment at Nappstraumen in Lofoten. Efforts to rescue the whale were coordinated by the directorate and the Coast Guard on Wednesday.
The whale, an adult humpback measuring up to 19 meters in length and weighing 25-30 metric tons, was freed on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite the successful release, the whale was observed to have little mobility. Following a thorough assessment, a veterinarian determined that the whale’s injuries were too severe for it to survive and recommended euthanasia.
“A vet was contacted, and assessed the situation through photos and video, and concluded that the suffering and injuries were of such an extent that it (the whale) was unlikely to survive,” the Directorate of Fisheries said.
“I think the rescue was too late, and I think it was going very slowly. Every hour is important to it,” Heike Vester, biologist and whale researcher at Ocean Sounds, told the national broadcaster NRK. ■