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| Whale calf seen pushing stranded mother off sandbank | Whale calf seen pushing stranded mother off sandbank |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A humpback whale which was stranded on an Australian sandbank has freed itself after its calf was seen apparently nudging it into deeper water. | A humpback whale which was stranded on an Australian sandbank has freed itself after its calf was seen apparently nudging it into deeper water. |
| The whale was spotted near North Stradbroke Island, about 100km (62 miles) south-west of Brisbane, early on Wednesday morning. | The whale was spotted near North Stradbroke Island, about 100km (62 miles) south-west of Brisbane, early on Wednesday morning. |
| Her distressed calf was later seen apparently pushing her as she splashed in the water to get free. | Her distressed calf was later seen apparently pushing her as she splashed in the water to get free. |
| About 40 minutes after getting stuck, the whale was able to dislodge herself. | About 40 minutes after getting stuck, the whale was able to dislodge herself. |
| Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) personnel were despatched to help the pair and planned to stabilise them until a team from Sea World, further along the coast, could arrive to help free them. | |
| But incoming tides and the efforts of the young whale helped the mother get off the sandbank before they arrived. | But incoming tides and the efforts of the young whale helped the mother get off the sandbank before they arrived. |
| "The whale was able to free itself and the adult and the calf were able to swim away," a spokesperson for QPWS told the BBC, adding that they successfully helped the pair out through shallow waters to the open sea. | "The whale was able to free itself and the adult and the calf were able to swim away," a spokesperson for QPWS told the BBC, adding that they successfully helped the pair out through shallow waters to the open sea. |
| "The mother was a bit tired and distressed". | "The mother was a bit tired and distressed". |
| Whales are common at this time of year on the Queensland coast, where many go to give birth and begin rearing their calves before heading back to Antarctic waters. | Whales are common at this time of year on the Queensland coast, where many go to give birth and begin rearing their calves before heading back to Antarctic waters. |