On 10th September 2008, a large humpback whale was found entangled in a fishing net near Diani, Kenya.

The boat called for help and a team of divers came to try and cut the whale free.

The apparently pregnant whale was between 12 - 15 metres long and very large in girth. It was badly entangled in the fishing net with pectoral fins pinned to its side. It couldn’t move apart from thrashing its tail and it is lucky it didn’t drown. It took the divers 2 hours to cut the whale free. They say that it was the most incredible experience of their lives - to be so close to one of the largest living mammals. Because the net was all over the whale's body the divers got right up to its face and could look straight into its eyes. The whale kept more or less still while the divers were cutting away the net, and the divers believe she knew that they were helping her.

These nets are illegal in many countries, as they are extremely destructive and particularly devastating when placed on coral reefs, which is what many local fishermen do. ‘We are just getting to the stage now where fishermen will call and report creatures caught in nets. Years ago the fishermen would simply cut off whatever part of the animal that was caught in the net and we have found whale sharks bleeding to death with the caudal fin hacked off.' said one of the divers.

Many thanks to Majik Fishing for reporting their find to Diving the Crab, to Diani Marine and to all others that helped to rescue the whale.