Humpback Whale calf carcass near Carnarvon, North Wales, Australia

Posted September 15, 2011

                    Photo: A shark alert has been issued after a whale calf carcass washed up on Gnaraloo Beach, north of Carnarvon

Map Carnarvon 6701

A shark alert has been issued for surfers after the body of a humpback whale calf washed up on a popular surfing beach at Gnaraloo, north of Carnarvon.

The dead calf was discovered this afternoon by environment and conservation officers at Turtles Beach, about 10 kilometres south of Three Mile Camp, near the base of Ningaloo Marine Park.

Graeme Meinema from the Department of Fisheries says the carcass may take several weeks to decompose.

“The real issue is that as it decays, obviously the whale blubber while turn to oil and that will spread across the the surface of the water and will attract sharks to the area,” he said.

“And once sharks can get to the whale, obviously they’ll commence to eat it on the shore if if they can get there on a high tide.”

abc.net.au/news

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