Humpback whale’s spectacular breach is sadly revealing; photos

A humpback whale that had been thrilling boaters off Newport Beach, Ca.,  for several days breached for a prolonged period Sunday, revealing that the mammal is hardly free and thriving.

The accompanying Instagram post by Mark Girardeau highlights  “the tragedy of yet another human-created problem” in the form of a commercial fishing rope running through the whale’s mouth and wound tightly around its right pectoral fin.

“We’re hoping the best for this whale!” Girardeau, who was with Newport Coastal Adventure...