A group of fishermen released an endangered whale shark back into the sea after it got trapped in their fishing net in the south Indian state of Kerala. 

The incident took place on January 28 near the Puthiyappa fishing harbour in Kozhikode. 

Footage, filmed by one of the fishermen, shows the men trying to control the distressed whale as it flips its tail from side to side on the ship's deck. 

The men quickly start cutting the knots of the net which had trapped the gentle sea giant. After loosening the net, the men use a crane attached to the vessel to push the shark back into the sea. 

According to reports, the fishermen had caught the whale while going on a commercial fishing tour.