In Western Australia near Perth, a large sperm whale got stuck on a sandbank at a famous beach last weekend. Sadly, the whale seen in the video died on Tuesday morning. This was confirmed by the folks at the Parks and Wildlife Service of Western Australia.
Details of the whale seen in the video
The whale seen in Australia, measuring 15 meters (49 feet), had swum off the sandbank but couldn’t make it and died.
Mark Cugley, who handles such situations at the Parks and Wildlife Service, shared that the whale was moving cautiously, swimming just two to three hundred meters before it slowed down. Its breathing pattern signaled that its life was coming to an end.
Whale showed up at Rockingham Beach
The past Saturday, December 8, 2023, a whale showed up at Rockingham Beach in Western Australia. People got quite close, touching it and taking selfies with it.
On Monday, Kelly Waples, a government expert on marine mammals, mentioned that the whale might have been stressed even before it reached the beach on Saturday. The interaction with people at the beach could have exacerbated its stress levels.
Sperms whales live far from the shore
According to Kelly Waples, sperm whales usually live far from the shore in deep water. That’s where they find their food and spend most of their time. Seeing them so close to shore and on the beach is rather infrequent.
Following the interaction on Saturday, the whale in the video swam back into the sea. However, on Monday, it was discovered on a sandbar nearby, where it was stuck. Kelly Waples mentioned it was in a bad state—thin, weak, and in a location where it shouldn’t be. “It’s come into this area in very poor health and its very unlikely to survive.”
Massive whale emerges close to the shore in Australia
📹 Ori Weiser
pic.twitter.com/EseDJma0KH— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) December 11, 2023
Officials were contemplating euthanizing the whale seen in the video before discovering that it had already passed away. As per a statement from the Parks and Wildlife Service of Western Australia, the rangers plan to shift the thirty-ton whale carcass to a safer location in the water away from the beach, which is currently closed.
Ecologists concerned about whale in video
In an interview, renowned marine scientist Dr. Natalie Sinclair emphasized the danger of people getting too close to a stranded whale. According to her, this not only puts the whale at risk but also jeopardizes the safety of those nearby.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA) took action to address this concern. They closed Rockingham Beach in the morning to safely remove the whale carcass.
In a statement on Facebook, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA) reported that wildlife and marine officers noticed the whale had shifted three hundred meters away from the sandbar towards Garden Island at approximately 4:30 am this morning.
Following a thorough assessment of the whale in the water, they reported that it had passed away at around 6:30 am.
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