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A gray whale first spotted mid-April entangled in over 120 feet of rope in San Onofre has finally been completely freed.
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center, who have been part of the rescue operation to free the whale, nicknamed "June," since the beginning, were able to get the whale partially disentangled before they lost track of the mammal in the waters. This afternoon, the PMMC report that "a group of fisherman with The Spud Point Crab Company off the coast of Bodega Bay were able to catch up with the whale, and successfully remove the last bit of debris hindering the whale."
Buoys attached to the whale were identified as belonging to the PMMC, confirming that she was in fact the elusive June.
A PMMC spokesperson said the group is thrilled June is free and are glad to "have such a happy ending."
June, it appears, is pretty glad, too. Tony Anello of The Spud Point Crab Company says the whale "showed obvious signs of gratitude," once she was free.
Good luck to you out there, June!
