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Heroic Rescue: Gray Whale Freed Amidst Rising Mortality

4/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A heroic rescue unfolded off Rancho Palos Verdes, California, as a 25-foot gray whale, ensnared in gill netting for nearly a day, was freed from a rock crab trap 100 feet below the surface. Led by NOAA Fisheries, the operation utilized drones and underwater cameras. However, experts express concern over increasing gray whale mortality rates linked to food shortages and environmental threats.

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Story summary

A heroic rescue unfolded off Rancho Palos Verdes, California, as a 25-foot gray whale, ensnared in gill netting for nearly a day, was freed from a rock crab trap 100 feet below the surface. Led by NOAA Fisheries, the operation utilized drones and underwater cameras. However, experts express concern over increasing gray whale mortality rates linked to food shortages and environmental threats.