Filmmaker and drone pilot, Marcus O’Brien, is down at South Golden Beach most mornings piloting his drone in search of whales to film.
O’Brien told The Echo, ‘Last Thursday, I spotted a slow-moving humpback swimming north, which was unusual, as I thought all other whales are heading back south at this time of year’.
‘On closer investigation, I could see its fluke (tail fin) was tangled in netting and slowing him/her down considerably.
ORRCA help
‘I rang ORRCA, the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans, who asked me if my drone could stay with the whale while the Sea World rescue team and Marine Rescue could get to assess the situation.
He added, ‘The teams worked efficiently and carefully to avoid further stressing the creature. The operation appears to have gone well, and the whale was freed.’
Marcus contributes to www.youtube.com/@greatmigrationsLIVE.
The Youtube channel is a growing global community of whale watchers and animal lovers.
There, you’ll find live humpback migration streams, cinematic oceanscapes, dramatic rescues, and short bursts of pure whale magic.
A 15 minute video of the whale being rescued can be seen here: www.youtube.com/watch?
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