The public is in a state of mourning and outrage. This outrage comes after a whale died two days after being beached by a fishing line. Despite the public's frantic efforts to return the whale to the ocean, experts made the decision to euthanize the creature rather than prolong its suffering.
Whale Died Two Days After Being Beached By Fishing Line
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People Magazine shared the heartwrenching story of a young humpback whale that was beached by a fishing line. People found it "trapped in an engagement of crab pot line on the Oregon Coast." TikTok creator Jacob Colvin shared a video of the massive public effort to save the whale's life. People rallied around the massive creature, tying a rope to its tail.
Then, in an attempt to turn the whale towards the ocean, those individuals began to pull on the rope. The video shows dozens of people frantically trying to save the whale, while also battling the dangers of the waves. Not to mention the sheer size of the whale also posed a danger to the people around it. The whale began flapping its flippers in an attempt to swim back out to sea, but it was to no avail.
Despite their best efforts, the community was unable to return the whale to the ocean. Afterward, People Magazine shared that the humpback whale was euthanized around 3 p.m. on Nov 17. Experts came to this decision after the realization that the animal would most likely not survive until the next high tide. Therefore, in an act of mercy, they chose to end its life.
The public was outraged after the whale died, highlighting the importance of being careful with fishing gear. Unfortunatley, this incident is just a painful reminder of the very real issues that can arise from entanglement in fishing gear.
