A young minke whale was rescued off the coast of Santiago del Teide in Tenerife, earlier today, after becoming entangled in a discarded fishing net. The dramatic rescue, which was captured on video and shared on TikTok by @dani95467, shows the moment a group of people on a boat managed to free the trapped cetacean.
The whale was spotted during a sailing excursion near the Los Gigantes cliffs, an area renowned for its rich marine life. The video footage reveals how the young whale was tangled in a net, with rescuers approaching cautiously to cut away the debris that was restricting its movement. According to the person who recorded the video, it took approximately 15 minutes to successfully free the animal.
Once liberated, the whale swam away freely. The video captures the joyful reactions of the rescuers, who can be heard cheering, clapping, and shouting "Let's go!" in celebration of their success. The video's author expressed their hope that the young whale would "find its mother and recover quickly."
The common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), also known as the northern minke whale, is a species commonly found in the Atlantic, though sightings around the Canary Islands are less frequent compared to other resident cetaceans. The species is distinguished from the Eden's whale (Balaenoptera edeni), which inhabits warmer waters.
In Tenerife, whale watching is a regulated activity aimed at protecting marine species. However, the use of fishing nets in areas with high marine mammal traffic remains a threat, as animals can become unintentionally trapped. This latest rescue highlights both the dangers these animals face and the importance of swift and careful intervention by those who encounter them.
