Dead Whale Washes Up on Perth Beach, Prompting Beach Closures
A dead whale has washed up on South Cottesloe beach, prompting authorities to close local beaches amid concerns of increased shark activity. Council staff have removed the carcass and will take it to landfill.
A second dead whale in recent weeks has washed up on a Perth beach, prompting authorities to close local beaches amid concerns of increased shark activity.
The 3-metre, significantly decomposed partial whale carcass was found at South Cottesloe beach early yesterday. Council staff have since removed the carcass from the beach, and it will be taken to landfill.
Cottesloe Mayor Melissa Harkins said all local beaches were currently closed, including Cottesloe main beach, which has a shark barrier in place.
"I would encourage people if they're coming down to the Cottesloe area to stay out of the water for the time being until the carcass is removed and probably for a little while longer," Cr Harkins said.
The mayor said council staff had organised a bulldozer to move the carcass onto a council truck, for removal to Red Hill Waste Management Facility for burial.
Cr Harkins said testing the animal for bird flu or E. coli was unnecessary due to the state of the remains.
This is the second whale to wash up on a Perth beach in recent weeks. On September 27, a 13-metre, 72-tonne humpback whale carcass washed up on south City Beach, which ultimately required a crane and cost almost $180,000 to remove.