Second Whale Rescue Attempt Underway

July 10, PROVINCETOWN, Mass. -- Marine scientists launched a secondrescue attempt today to remove fishing line embedded in theinfected jaw of an endangered right whale off the Massachusettscoast.

Teri Frady of the National Marine Fisheries Service said thecrew will use a different drug to attempt to sedate the whale,which did not respond to a sedative used in a failed rescue attemptJune 26.

The heavy nylon fishing rope has caused a serious infection thatcould eventually kill the 50-foot-long, 50-ton male whale, one ofonly about 300 right whales left in the world.

The rescue crew, which includes three veterinarians, leftProvincetown at 7:15 a.m., and should reach the animal aroundmidday.

Guided By Aircraft

Aircraft will attempt to direct the vessel to the whale. CoastGuard rescue divers also will accompany the team, Frady said.

The whale was first spotted June 8, about 80 miles east of CapeCod. The next day, scientists attached a tracking buoy to theanimal.

Entanglement and ship strikes are considered a major cause ofmortality for Atlantic right whales and a significant danger to thefuture of the species.