A severely entangled North Atlantic right whale — a species whose numbers are down to just a few hundred — was swimming off Florida on Friday after experts managed to cut off much of the fishing ropes holding it back.

“The team successfully removed more than 150 feet of ropes wrapped around the whale’s head and fins, and cut portions of entangling ropes that remain on the animal,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement.

“We were very concerned about this whale as the entangling ropes appeared to be life threatening,” said NOAA official Jamison Smith. “Given the efforts of the disentanglement team we are optimistic the whale may shed the remaining ropes on its own, so we will continue to monitor its condition via aerial surveys and intervene again if necessary.”