Second dead whale washes up at Perth beach in recent weeks
A second dead whale washed up at South Cottesloe beach, forcing local beach closures.
A badly decomposed whale washed up at South Cottesloe beach early today. All beaches in the area, including the main beach, closed right away.
Council staff will remove the 3-metre remains using a bulldozer and bury them at the local waste facility. Cottesloe Mayor Melissa Harkins warned swimmers to stay out of the water.
Increased shark activity around dead whales happens during and after the removal. In late September, a 13-metre humpback whale washed up on City Beach.
That removal cost almost $180,000. It required a crane.
No testing for bird flu or E. coli is planned. The whale has decomposed too much.
- 3 metres
- Whale length
- Late September
- Time since first whale
- Almost $180,000
- Previous removal cost
- 13 metres
- Previous whale size
Why it mattersDead whales attract sharks and create public safety risks. Repeated strandings suggest a possible environmental issue worth monitoring.
