source : the age
Authorities have confirmed a juvenile humpback whale that beached itself off Perth’s south coast has died overnight, despite repeated efforts to save it on Wednesday.
The Department of Biosecurity, Conservation and Attractions have said Perth Zoo veterinarians will attend Port Kennedy Beach on Thursday morning to collect biological samples and data from the carcass to learn more about the whale.
“The team’s priority today is to safely remove the carcass from the beach for disposal offsite,” they said.
“A shark alert remains in place for the area. Port Kennedy Beach remains closed to the public until further notice by the City of Rockingham.”
Officers responded to a number of public reports about the whale on Wednesday morning, which had become stranded.
It was seen swimming close to shore throughout the morning, and public reports said the animal had begun to become stuck on the sand just after 11am.
The public were warned to stay away to avoid stressing the animal while officials discussed whether to attempt to push the animal back to sea, or if it required euthanasia.
Stranding events for juvenile humpback whales can often lead them to seriously injure themselves due to extreme pressure put on their organs, and stress can worsen their survival rates.
Experts said the condition of the humpback whale’s skin appeared to indicate it had a pre-existing illness before the beaching.
Wildlife authorities have previously warned the survival rate of whales who beach themselves can be extremely low, even with human intervention, and even if the whale can be re-floated, it may strand itself again.
Perth Zoo vets on Wednesday said the whale was in “compromised health” and they could not safely refloat it until it has moved positions on the beach.
“On the advice of the vets, the whale has been administered a sedative to hopefully lessen its pain and suffering,” a department spokesperson said.
“DBCA officers will remain on the beach overnight to monitor the whale, and the response team will return tomorrow to determine the next steps.”
