Dolphin Rescued After Getting Tangled in Crab Pot Line

New footage shows the dramatic moment a two-year-old dolphin was freed after becoming entangled in a crab pot line.

The incident happened in Tin Can Bay on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. The team at the Sea World Foundation said they noticed Skye, the Australian Humpback Dolphin, had the line “entangled through his mouth” on Friday, January 26.

A marine mammal team and vet met with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) rangers to successfully remove the entanglement.

“It was incredibly rewarding to remove all of the entanglement and watch Skye swim off strongly with mum, Ella, following the operation,” Sea World Head of Marine Sciences, Wayne Phillips said in a statement.

“The entanglement was impeding Skye from suckling from Ella so it was important we intervened to remove the rope and give him the best chance of survival.”

QPWS Principal Ranger Daniel Clifton said entanglement is one of the leading causes of marine animal death in Queensland.

“Crab pots in particular pose a threat to marine animals as they can easily get tangled around their fins and tails," Clifton said. “Skye is very lucky to have been freed before his condition could deteriorate; well done to all involved.” Credit: Sea World Foundation via Storyful

Video transcript

- Where the hell we going?

[CHATTER]

- Yes, what's up? What's up?

[CHATTER]

- Yeah, mate. Yeah, we just got [INAUDIBLE].

[CHATTER]

- --pick up [INAUDIBLE].

- Yeah.

[CHATTER]

- [INAUDIBLE] on the bottom. But this one's lighter.

- Yeah.

[CHATTER]

- All right, we're good.

[CHATTER]

- [INAUDIBLE] back there. I can't see anything at this [INAUDIBLE]. As they say--

[CHATTER]

- Can you see it there, the right side, [INAUDIBLE]?

- Yeah, it's not bad. Yeah. [INAUDIBLE] right through.

[CHATTER]

- [INAUDIBLE] goes all the way back there.

[CHATTER]

- Cast on the outside [INAUDIBLE], just [INAUDIBLE] under.

[CHATTER]

- Drops away.

- By the time you're under the wall--

[CHATTER]

- [INAUDIBLE] comes up underneath whereas this one goes under and out to the other side.

- Yeah.

[CHATTER]

- I know, Willa. I know, darling.

- Yeah, yeah.

[CHATTER]

- There's a [INAUDIBLE] just underneath.

- Yeah, like there it is. It's like two feet.

[CHATTER]

- All right, [INAUDIBLE], get ready.

[CHATTER]

- You want to shorten it.

[CHATTER]

- Boat's out that way.

[CHATTER]

- You got to grab-- you probably have to get it wrapped.

[CHATTER]

- Nice.

[CHATTER]

- [INAUDIBLE]

[CROWD APPLAUSE]

- Woo hoo!

[CHATTER]

- Back out.

[CHATTER]

- From the bottom of their heart.

- [LAUGHS] Fantastic, eh?

- Pretty impressive. [INAUDIBLE].

- Yeah, yeah. And calm-- mom's calm too. It's just great.

[CHATTER]

- Well, that's [INAUDIBLE].

- Good job on that.

- [INAUDIBLE]

Once this is happening, we're going to have to do the [INAUDIBLE]. But as soon as she [INAUDIBLE], she instantly [INAUDIBLE].

[CHATTER]

- I'll give you the [INAUDIBLE].

- Well, we'll come-- we're going to have a coffee with you after [INAUDIBLE].

[CHATTER]

- Yeah.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Yeah, right.

- [INAUDIBLE] when they reach five, were pushed out by the dominant male [INAUDIBLE] and our patch.

- Yeah.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Yeah, that's very sad.

[CHATTER]

- Yeah, that's the hard [INAUDIBLE].

[CHATTER]

- Down there?

- [INAUDIBLE] going to go and see a couple of them might leave with us.

- Yes.

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Thank you. I'll meet you at the top.

- I'll try and hold off.

- Well done, guys.

- I've got--