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A young female sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
became entangled in a gill net in the Aegean Sea close
to Fethiye in Turkey.
Marine experts from the Turkish Marine Research
Foundation (TUDAV) organised a rescue operation
with the assistance of divers from the Turkish Navy.
The animal was finally freed after a three hour combined operation during which sections of gill net were cut away from the lower jaw and tail flukes of the juvenile whale.
Following its ordeal it is reported to be safe and appears to be functioning normally.
During the operation, skin samples were taken for genetic studies and recordings were made of the sounds produced by the whale using a hydrophone.
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