Whale carcass removed but sharks keep Perth beaches closed
A 31-tonne whale carcass was removed from City Beach on Wednesday, but five-metre white sharks spotted offshore mean the beach remains closed.
The 13-metre whale, believed to be a 20-year-old female, was removed from South City Beach after being discovered Monday. The carcass was taken to landfill at a cost of $60,000 to $100,000.
Two large white sharks were spotted just metres offshore on Tuesday. A 5-metre shark was only 10 metres from shore and a 4-metre shark was 30 metres out.
Shark experts say liquids and smell from the carcass will remain in the water for at least a week. This keeps sharks attracted to the area.
The Town of Cambridge warned the public not to use drones or ignore beach closures. A person filmed jumping on the carcass put themselves at risk.
- 31 tonnes
- Whale weight
- 13 metres
- Whale length
- 60,000 to 100,000 dollars
- Removal cost
- 5 metres
- Largest shark spotted
Why it mattersBeachgoers can't return to the water for weeks, and sharks remain a serious safety concern even after the whale is gone.
AustraliaCity Beach and nearby Cottesloe in Perth are closed indefinitely, disrupting swimmers and water activities across the summer season.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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