Fishermen released a 13ft whale shark that was found trapped in a net in India.

The marine creature became tangled in the expanse of the rope netting along the shore in the village of Poonthura in Kerala on January 6.

They were joined by local wildlife officers who tended to the animal to ensure it was safe.

In under 30 minutes, the fisherman had hacked through the net, allowing the whale shark to be released and swam away into the ocean.

Wildlife workers said that the Save the Whale Shark Campaign, a collaborative effort between the Kerala Forest, Fisheries, and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), had been raising awareness among fishermen about the importance of safeguarding these incredible animals.

Sajan John, a marine specialist with the Wildlife Trust of India, praised the Poonthura fishermen for their efforts to protect marine life.

He said: 'The survival of these majestic creatures is threatened by accidental entanglements in fishing nets, vessel collisions, and widespread coastal pollution.'

Whale sharks are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and are safeguarded by Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.

Entanglement in fishing nets, or 'ghost nets' that have been cast adrift to float aimlessley, are among the biggest threats to marine life.