Whale Rescuers on Standby

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Two right whales were spotted on the Georgia Coast near Jacksonville, FL. (Image courtesy of NOAA.)

(Image courtesy of NOAA.)

SAPELO ISLAND, GA (WTOC) - Disentanglement Responders in Georgia and Florida are waiting and hoping aerial teams spot two right whales off the Georgia coast again.

Saturday, the two were seen for the second time. The first time they were spotted was January 29 just northeast of Jacksonville, FL.

One of the whales, identified as 3333, has a rope caught in it's mouth.

The other unidentifed whale has much more severe lascerations.

Barb Zoodsma of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service told WTOC that the netting or fishing gear could be lodged deep in the whales skin and that they need to get this animal help immediately because the appearance of the skin is so shocking.

Zoodsma also said right whale 3333, if caught, could be more easily freed of the rope in it's mouth.

NOAA didn't search for the whales on Monday because they said it was too foggy for search crews. Since the whales seem to be on a northly path, teams of trained biologists in Georgia and Florida hope they can find the whales again and help them as soon as possible.

Reported by Jamie Ertle-Durden; jertle@wtoc.com