Whale calf found in waters likely to attract sharks
Officials warn dead whale likely to attract sharks
ABC
November 11, 2011
The Department of Environment and Conservation says a baby whale, which is presumed to have died in waters between Rottnest Island and Fremantle, is likely to attract sharks to the area.
The calf received life threatening injuries when it was struck by a boat last night and is believed to have died overnight.
The calf’s mother was also struck but her injuries were less severe.
Senior Marine Operations Officer, John Edwards, says, while sharks will be attracted to the blood, the whales were at least eight miles away from the nearest beaches.
“It’s nature in action,” Mr Edwards said.
“Certainly, with a wound as severe as the one that the calf received, there was a bit of blood in the water, and we have got sharks passing through the metropolitan area, so it’s reasonable to assume that they quite possibly would pick it up.”
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Injured baby whale given up for dead
Rania Spooner
November 11, 2011
The whereabouts of a baby humpback whale believed to have been fatally wounded in a collision with a 47-foot boat off Rottnest Island yesterday, is still not known.
Expecting the worst, the Department of Environment and Conservation is not actively looking for the wounded calf.
A DEC spokeswoman said police reported a vessel collision with the calf and its mother, which left the calf bleeding heavily with two deep cuts to its back and the mother with less severe injuries.
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The whales were last seen at dusk.
Rottnest Express tour operators said their whale watchers and tour guides had not seen the pair today.
“The prognosis for the calf isn’t good,” the DEC spokeswoman said.
“It was seen to be bleeding quite heavily, it’s likely to attract predators, and it wasn’t moving too much.”
She encouraged people to report any sightings, but said there was probably not much that could be done to save the calf even if it was found.
“We are expecting that the calf won’t survive,” she said.
She said it was not common for wildlife to collide with boats around Rottnest, but “it does happen”.
A not-for-profit environmental advocacy group, Conservation Council of WA, has been advocating for sanctuaries in key areas around Rottnest to key areas where whales and other marine life feed and breed.
CCWA spokesman Tim Nicol said his group was particularly concerned with Perth Canyon, on the opposite side of Rottnest to where the calf was injured yesterday, as it is one of only three places in Australia the endangered blue whale feeds.
“It’s really sad and unfortunate that this has happened to a humpback whale between Perth and Rottnest,” he said.
“This really highlights that we need to be very careful about how we protect whales and put in places areas that are protected and designated for protections.”
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Whale attracts sharks to Rottnest
KATE BASTIANS,
The West Australian
November 11, 2011
More sharks were sighted off Rottnest yesterday after a Humpback calf was mortally wounded by a 47ft boat.
A water police spokesman said a Riviera hit the baby whale about 4.30pm at The Windmills, about five miles east of Rottnest Island.
A DEC spokesman said the calf was not expected to live.
“The reports we’ve had is that the outlook for the calf is pretty bleak.”
“The calf is still alive but it’s bleeding heavily with two deep cuts along its back and the mother also has a wound on her flukes,” the spokesman said.
“It’s understood the mother was tyring to keep the calf afloat but it appeared very weak.”
“As far as sharks go we will assess the situation in this morning but people should be aware that two injured whales are in the area and there have been sightings.”
George Wainwright, a 32-year-old man from Texas, was killed by a shark on October 22 while scuba diving 500m off Little Armstrong Bay at Rottnest Island.
A water police spokesman said they were expecting sharks to feed off the carcass but he was not worried about more shark attacks.
“It’s a fair way off Rottnest.
“If you go swimming around the dead baby whale it would be concern, I wouldn’t’ be doing that.”
A crew from Fremantle Sea Rescue shadowed the boat back to Fremantle but no-one on board was injured.
Fair Use: Educational
Injured baby whale given up for dead
Rania Spooner
November 11, 2011
The whereabouts of a baby humpback whale believed to have been fatally wounded in a collision with a 47-foot boat off Rottnest Island yesterday, is still not known.
Expecting the worst, the Department of Environment and Conservation is not actively looking for the wounded calf.
A DEC spokeswoman said police reported a vessel collision with the calf and its mother, which left the calf bleeding heavily with two deep cuts to its back and the mother with …Read more …
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