Young sperm whale carcass found on Young Husband Peninsula Beach, South Australia

Katrina Stokes adelaidenow

December 05, 2012

THE body of a sperm whale has been found at Young Husband Peninsula Beach near the Murray Mouth, just weeks after another carcass was washed up on the southern coastline.

It was identified by the South Australian Whale Watch Centre as a young female measuring 4.7m long.

A young female sperm whale has been found dead at Young Husband Peninsula Beach, south of the Murray Mouth. Pic: Leah Pippos, SA Whale Centre Source: adelaidenow

Local cockle farmer Darren Hood alerted the whale centre and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

The death follows another sperm whale finding – the skull of an adult, which washed up along the coast line at Waitpinga Cliffs a few weeks ago.

The skull measured a whopping 5.07m long. The whale centre estimates it could have been about 18m long.

South Australian Whale Centre coordinator Leah Pippos said it was unusual for two sperm whales to be found washed up along the Fleurieu Peninsula in such a short space of time.

She believes the cases are unrelated.

Ms Pippos is asking the public to contact the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources on (08) 8551 3677 in the event of finding dead whales or othere marine creatures along the coast.

adelaidenow.com.au

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