When a 12 ton animal is fighting to survive you understand how nature is strong and how man can be destructive. We were going out to dive when some fisherman came to ask the Zavora Lab team and Mozdivers for help to release a whale from their nets. We got there as quick as we could, even before the motors stopped I was ready to jump in the water with my tank. I was thinking each second is precious as the whale must breathe! I was broken hearted and expecting to find a dead humpback whale calf.
The huge animal was probably caught in the net early morning and was trying to realize itself since then. At 8 meters deep and with all the movement, the visibility was terrible and everyone was scared to get close. It was just when I was about 30cm from that huge body that I saw it, the "whale" was in fact a whale shark, and still alive!
His mouth could not open, his tiny eyes were covered in nets and the massive body strangled. I got a knife from the fisherman and started to cut the nets from his face so he could breathe properly. About 10 minutes latter his face and pectoral fins was free and the massive animal started to roll about crazily, the only thing I could see was 12tons of shark coming in my direction, somehow he managed to not smash me and all the nets ended up going to his tail. There were lots of nets, massive piece of reef and ropes all tangled in his tail. I swam in the direction of his tail to start cutting the nets away. He of course was afraid and fighting to survive, he was shaking his tail from one side to another like a huge snake. I knew the danger of getting tangled, but there was not a choice. I grabbed the nets and started to cut, it was too much net and rope and with such violent movements I wasn´t sure if I would be able to do something but I needed to try. The first time I got tangled, I thought for a second that I and he would stay there forever. At that moment I thought to myself "keep calm, keep calm" and started breathe slowly and managed to release myself. My fins and hoses were all tangled, but thankfully I have hands and a knife! The whale shark wasn´t so lucky...
Then Zinho, a dive master from Mozdivers and Sergio, a trainee, came in on SCUBA to help. Having someone to look after me if I got tangled was a great relief. Barbara, the zavoralab intern, also came and started to film. All of us were now working trying to cut the huge mess of rope and net, but it seemd impossible. I kept going up and down getting new knifes as they easily lost their sharpness. Someone suggested pulling the whale shark shallower and releasing it there, I knew if we did that, he would die and after that fight I would not accept it. Therefore, I, Zinho and Sergio continued working as hard as we could, eventually a fisherman also came to help. Finally after 50 minutes of despair and team work, we managed to free him, and he was gone as the spirit of the ocean - free. I wished he would go far, far from all the nets, far and free in a peaceful ocean. I would rather never see a whale shark again than see one suffering as he did. Unfortunately I know that in calling for help to realize him, the fishermen were only concerned with saving the nets. However at least, for me, Zinho, Sergio, Barbara, and the two divers, it was about saving his life. A fabulous animal that might live for more 80 years! I wish one day everyone would get together for the respect and love of life. It might be utopian but I do believe that we will only protect what we love, and we will only love what we know. I might be a dreamer but for me, knowledge, care and love can change the world. You might feel like swimming against the current all the time, but at least you are not tangled in the net, the society net. Love and be free!
The huge animal was probably caught in the net early morning and was trying to realize itself since then. At 8 meters deep and with all the movement, the visibility was terrible and everyone was scared to get close. It was just when I was about 30cm from that huge body that I saw it, the "whale" was in fact a whale shark, and still alive!
His mouth could not open, his tiny eyes were covered in nets and the massive body strangled. I got a knife from the fisherman and started to cut the nets from his face so he could breathe properly. About 10 minutes latter his face and pectoral fins was free and the massive animal started to roll about crazily, the only thing I could see was 12tons of shark coming in my direction, somehow he managed to not smash me and all the nets ended up going to his tail. There were lots of nets, massive piece of reef and ropes all tangled in his tail. I swam in the direction of his tail to start cutting the nets away. He of course was afraid and fighting to survive, he was shaking his tail from one side to another like a huge snake. I knew the danger of getting tangled, but there was not a choice. I grabbed the nets and started to cut, it was too much net and rope and with such violent movements I wasn´t sure if I would be able to do something but I needed to try. The first time I got tangled, I thought for a second that I and he would stay there forever. At that moment I thought to myself "keep calm, keep calm" and started breathe slowly and managed to release myself. My fins and hoses were all tangled, but thankfully I have hands and a knife! The whale shark wasn´t so lucky...
Then Zinho, a dive master from Mozdivers and Sergio, a trainee, came in on SCUBA to help. Having someone to look after me if I got tangled was a great relief. Barbara, the zavoralab intern, also came and started to film. All of us were now working trying to cut the huge mess of rope and net, but it seemd impossible. I kept going up and down getting new knifes as they easily lost their sharpness. Someone suggested pulling the whale shark shallower and releasing it there, I knew if we did that, he would die and after that fight I would not accept it. Therefore, I, Zinho and Sergio continued working as hard as we could, eventually a fisherman also came to help. Finally after 50 minutes of despair and team work, we managed to free him, and he was gone as the spirit of the ocean - free. I wished he would go far, far from all the nets, far and free in a peaceful ocean. I would rather never see a whale shark again than see one suffering as he did. Unfortunately I know that in calling for help to realize him, the fishermen were only concerned with saving the nets. However at least, for me, Zinho, Sergio, Barbara, and the two divers, it was about saving his life. A fabulous animal that might live for more 80 years! I wish one day everyone would get together for the respect and love of life. It might be utopian but I do believe that we will only protect what we love, and we will only love what we know. I might be a dreamer but for me, knowledge, care and love can change the world. You might feel like swimming against the current all the time, but at least you are not tangled in the net, the society net. Love and be free!
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