Incredible moment pod of killer whales appear to free a humpback after it became tangled in ropes off the Australian coast – even though the feared predators usually feed on the species

• Nature encounter was off the Western Australian south coast near Bremer Bay
• Shocked onlookers in nearby boat as orcas usually feast on humpback whales
• Witnesses ‘feared the worst’ as pod of orcas headed towards the trapped whale

The incredible moment a pod of killer orcas helped free a trapped humpback has been caught on video.

The remarkable nature encounter was captured off the Western Australian south coast near Bremer Bay on January 10.

It was a ‘rescue’ that stunned onlookers because orcas often feast on humpbacks in the ocean – injured or otherwise.

And with the whale seemingly tangled in ropes, it presented an easy meal for the feared ocean predators, who often also attack and kill great white sharks.

‘It would usually be part of their diet so when we saw the injured humpback and the approaching orca, we were concerned,’ Whale Watch Western Australia’s Gemma Sharp Sharp told the Mandurah Mail.

The signs looked ominous for a humpback whale was who tangled in ropes recently off the Western Australian south coast (pictured)

When an orca (pictured left) approached the humpback whale, onlookers thought the whale’s days were numbered

The trio of orcas, named Hookfin, Blade and Matriach Queen, were expected to devour the trapped whale – but amazingly they all appeared to lose interest once the humpback was set free.

‘Lifting his fluke we could see that this humpback whale was entangled and our hearts sank, (it is) a terrible situation to be in when trying to defend yourself against the ocean apex predators,’ a statement from Whale Watchers Western Australia read.

‘He rolled and during this process we could see Blade swimming directly underneath his fluke and looking at the rope entanglement… the orcas then charged towards the humpback while he defended himself with pectoral fins and fluke swiping.

‘Matriarch Queen arrived and moved towards the humpback whale which caused a commotion of white water and then something incredible happened – a large chunk of the green rope that was entangling the humpback floated free behind him.’

Having been freed in the nick of time, the humpback whale then swam away from the pod.

Witnessing a humpback whale swimming in Western Australian waters in January was also unusual.

Humpbacks usually feed in Antarctica at this time of year.

In amazing scenes, one of the orcas managed to free the tangled humpback whale (pictured) to safety

Those who witnessed the scene were shocked after the orcas had every chance to feast on the injured whale –  but chose not to

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