The 58-Hour Mission to Save a Humpback Whale in Benguela, Angola
On 22 September 2025, Praia da Caxiva became the center of an extraordinary rescue operation. A 14-meter-long humpback whale, weighing an estimated 30–35 tonnes, had become stranded near the point where a river meets the sea—one of the most difficult settings for any marine animal rescue.
Wrapped in a large fishing net and completely beached, the whale urgently needed help. Upon discovering the whale, CCAHD partners from the Wambi project contacted the CCAHD General Secretary, who immediately put them in touch with the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) Stranding Coordinator and members of the IWC Expert Panel on Strandings. These experts guided the team on the ground in Angola, offering real-time advice via constant WhatsApp contact – and sharing of videos, photos and best practice guidelines.
The stranded whale lay helpless, partially entangled in a fishing net
The operation was coordinated by CCAHD partner, the Kitabanga / Wambi Project under the leadership of Edna Leite, with support from: Provincial Office for the Environment, Port of Lobito, the Angolan Navy, Lobito and Catumbela Fire Brigade rescue teams, Catumbela Police, Omatapalo (equipment support with a rotary machine), Local fishermen, turtle guardians, community volunteers, friends, and project members.
The incredibly challenging operation included securing the site and assessing the whale’s condition, coordinating the removal of the fishing net, stabilizing the animal throughout the intervention, and gradually guiding it back to deeper waters once freed.
An excavator was used as part of the coordinated whale rescue efforts
After 58 nerve-wracking hours, the rescue successfully returned the whale to the open sea, strengthened collaboration between local authorities, conservation organizations, and community members, and provided valuable lessons to improve future stranding responses. Building on this experience, Projecto Wambi proposed organizing a workshop with the Lobito Port Authority and Fire Brigade teams to enhance preparedness, protocols, and technical capacity for similar events.
According to team leader Edna Leite, the operation was highly demanding and emotional, and its success highlighted the importance of continued training and readiness. Overall, the rescue demonstrated the critical role of rapid coordination, institutional support, and community engagement in effective marine mammal stranding interventions.