Humpback whale found dead in beach pool
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
A massive swell swept the carcass of a 30-tonne whale into the ocean pool at Newport Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches overnight. Now, one year after a sperm whale washed up on the same beach, authorities face a difficult operation to remove the 10-metre body, lying near a popular surfing break.
The sub-adult male humpback whale was believed to have died about three or four days ago and washed up against the bars of the ocean pool overnight, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Marine Fauna Program Co-ordinator Geoff Ross said.
The phones rang hot early this morning to alert authorities to the latest casualty of the annual whale migration. Several dozen locals, some with young children, gathered to watch police clear a small area of beach in front of the whale – which they curiously deemed to be dangerous – and move spectators and media back to the comparative safety around the public toilets.
“It’s not unusual at this time of the year to see dead humpbacks,” Mr Ross said. “Off Sydney, we’re looking at the tail end of the humpback migration and it’s at this time of the year that we start to see the sick and infirm animals coming through – the animals that just won’t make it in the population.
“And having to fight against these big seas is really taking its toll and some of those animals will die offshore. Generally, they are dealt with by offshore predators such as sharks but, of course, when the seas are very rough and [there are] strong winds, it blows the carcass in shore very quickly.
“This is our second humpback in NSW on the beach already and I would expect a few more this season. Last year, we had seven.”
ORRCA rescuer Shona Lorigan faced another long day today after spending 12 hours yesterday standing guard over a New Zealand fur seal that decided to come ashore in a nearby dog walking park at Rowland Reserve in Bayview.
MS Lirogan, who has two dogs of her own, spent the entire day yesterday stopping curious dogs getting too close to the seal, which had clambered up on to a deck by the water to sunbathe.
“Yesterday was a long but happy day because no harm came to any animal. All the dog walkers were delightful. I spent the whole day down there waiting for the seal to leave,” she said.
“Today was obviously not such a happy day. It was very sad to see this moment. There are plenty of humpback whales out at sea today but they don’t tend to hang around for male deaths, just for the pups,” she said.
Mr Ross said rangers would be trying to determine the safest way to remove the carcass after today’s low tide, which is expected to occur about 2pm.
“We’ll go out and access the situation and we’ll plan the best and most safest method for getting the carcass away from the bars, maybe up on a beach and then removal at a time later tomorrow morning … but certainly it will involved a lot of people and a lot of resources. Large bulldozers and equipment will need to be in place,” he said.
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