Rescuers race to save whale after it beaches itself off Port Kennedy
The Department of Biosecurity, Conservation and Attractions confirmed officers are at Port Kennedy beach where the humpback whale has begun to beach itself.
A humpback whale, measuring nine meters in length, tragically perished after becoming stranded on a sandbank in shallow water at Port Kennedy, one of Perth's southern suburbs. Onlookers gathered yesterday as officials from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) worked alongside veterinarians to evaluate the whale's condition.
It was speculated that the mammal had sustained internal injuries. The DBCA revealed that the whale passed away overnight, and veterinarians from Perth Zoo were scheduled to arrive the following morning to collect biological samples from the carcass to further investigate the cause of death and its overall health. The carcass is anticipated to be removed from the beach later on the same day.
A shark alert remains active for the area, and Port Kennedy Beach continues to be off-limits to the public until further notice. DBCA officials expressed hope that the mammal could be saved, but the prognosis grew increasingly bleak as the day progressed. Incident controller Benson Todd explained that the whale most likely suffered internal injuries from its beaching ordeal.
"The prognosis for the whale isn't good," Todd lamented, "All we're doing now is preparing some sedatives to make the whale more comfortable."
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