Humpback Whale Tangled In Fishing Gear For Days Is Freed

BOSTON (AP) — A young humpback whale that was tangled up in fishing gear off Boston for several days has been freed.

The Center for Coastal Studies says its Marine Animal Entanglement Response team freed the whale Sunday with help from state environmental police and the Coast Guard.

The Provincetown-based organization says fishermen discovered the 30-foot whale Thursday caught in fishing gear but rescuers had been unable to get to it safely in rough waters.

Images provided by the center showed the whale's tail was caught in a rope attached to fishing gear on the ocean floor.

Rescuers say the whale is doing well but will need time to heal. They followed it for about two hours as it slowly left the area.