WA: Humpback dies on beach north of Perth
07 Dec 2008 8:37 PM
PERTH, Dec 7 AAP - A juvenile humpback whale has died on a beach north of Perth.
WA's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) senior wildlife officer Doug Coughran said the 18-month-old whale was in poor condition when found on a Mindarie beach early on Sunday.
It died about 3pm (WDT), he said.
"It was covered in parasites. That is a clear sign the animal is in poor health," he said in a statement on Sunday.
"The body condition was down and it had no muscle tone.
"It was born last year and this was the first year it was migrating on its own and it wasn't doing well at all, it was basically starving.
"It was quite clear to me, and the vets who helped assess the whale's condition, it was not going to survive and it is a very good outcome that it died quietly of natural causes in a relatively short time."
The whale, which was bogged in sand in the surf zone, was reported to City of Wanneroo rangers at about 6.45am.
Mr Coughran was contacted and he and other DEC officers monitored the whale during the day.
"City of Wanneroo will make arrangements for the 10- to 12-tonne whale, which is on a beach about 700 metres south of Mindarie Keys Marina, to be removed tomorrow," he said.
Mr Coughran thanked City of Wanneroo rangers for their help in keeping the public informed and away from the vicinity of the whale and the Water Police for preventing boats and jet skis from approaching the mammal.
He also thanked the public for their co-operation.
