A group of fishermen rescued a whale shark trapped in a fishing net in Antique, the Philippines, on December 10.

Footage shows the locals carefully removing the ghost net, which had been cut loose from a trawler, while the massive marine creature was tangled inside.

After carefully manoeuvring the net to guide the animal away from the trap, the gentle giant finally found the opening, allowing it to be swim away unharmed.

Whale sharks are listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Conservation efforts are crucial to protecting their populations globally, including in the country.

Overfishing is one of the biggest dangers to whale sharks.

A ghost net is a fishing net that has been abandoned, lost, or discarded in the ocean, lakes, or rivers. They are made of synthetic materials like nylon or polyethylene, which can be incredibly harmful to marine life.