Snorkellers rescue baby humpback whale from net in Mexico (video)
A heartwarming video has captured the moment a group of brave snorkellers managed to cut free a baby humpback whale that had become entangled in a fisherman's net.
Five people had been snorkelling in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, when they spotted the whale, and first believed she was dead, reports the Mirror.
On further inspection, they found it was alive, and had become stuck in a nylon net that stretched 15ft below the surface.
They decided to attempt to rescue it, and spent an hour trying to cut it free with a knife.
The group were successful in their rescue bid, and were then rewarded as the whale swam and breached the water in front of them in a beautiful celebration of its freedom.
The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland.
It is bordered by the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa with a coastline of approximately 2,500 miles.
The Gulf is thought to be one of the most diverse seas on the planet, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The narrow sea is home to a unique and rich ecosystem. In addition to a wide range of endemic creatures, such as the critically endangered vaquita, it hosts many migratory species, such as the humpback whale, California gray whale, killer whale, manta ray, Humboldt Squid and leatherback sea turtle, and the world's largest animal, the blue whale.
The unusual resident populations of fin whales and sperm whales do not migrate annually.
The Gulf of California sustains a large number of marine mammals, many of which are rare and endangered. Its more than 900 islands are important nesting sites for thousands of seabirds, and its waters are primary breeding, feeding, and nursing grounds for a host of migratory and resident fish species.
For decades, the gulf has been a primary source of two of Mexico's leading marine resources, sardines and anchovies.
Water pollution is a problem in the Gulf of California, but the more immediate concerns are overfishing and bottom trawling.
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