Humpback whale "says thanks" after being freed from nets

[Video Link]. In this video, The Great Whale Conservancy (GWC) co-founder Michael Fishbach describes his encounter with a young humpback whale entangled in local fishing nets off the coast of Baja California, Mexico.

Spoiler: the whale is freed, and she survives. After she is freed, she breaches again and again in a way that suggests she is thrilled to be free and alive (yes, there could be more dull explanations for her behavior, but she sure looks like one overjoyed whale to me).

Even in the rare cases where humans are able to intervene to try and free whales trapped in fishing nets, this kind of happy ending is rare. I know people here in Southern California who have been involved in emergency rescue efforts, and the sad truth is: even with the best of efforts, they often fail. Knowing that makes this video all the more sweet.

If you would like to donate to The Great Whale Conservancy's efforts, or get involved to help save more whales like this, you can contact Mr. Fishbach at fishdeya@gmail.com, or contribute here.

(via Reddit, thanks Susannah Breslin)