How to get rid of a costly whale of a problem

Removing tonnes of organic material from a beach, such as a dead whale, proves to be a complex and costly endeavor. On Monday morning, a massive 13-metre-long whale weighing around 31 tonnes washed ashore at City Beach, a popular destination in Perth, during a public holiday. The carcass decayed as the sun rose, releasing a foul odor that attracted sharks and prompted the beach's closure for swimmers.

Disposing of whale carcasses presents numerous challenges. They are heavy, produce an unpleasant smell, and are expensive to handle. While experts advise specific methods, dynamite-based disposal, previously used in Florence, Oregon, has proven disastrous, as the shockwaves from 20 cases of dynamite and 450 kilograms caused chunks of blubber to fly into the air and a parked car nearly half a kilometre away to be caved in.

Rather than resorting to explosives, experts recommend towing carcasses back out to sea or transporting them to a landfill. Dr. Kate Sprogis, a marine biologist from the University of Western Australia, cautions that the most viable options depend on weather conditions and the availability of adequate transportation. If conditions are unfavorable, landfill may be the only choice, though it is likely to be expensive.

For instance, in 2014, the removal of a whale carcass from Scarborough Beach cost $188,000, with the Town of Cambridge mayor successfully securing half the funds from the state government.

Whale carcasses typically wash ashore during the months of September and October, a period when humpback whales migrate. Dr. Sprogis explains that a necropsy is usually required to determine the cause of death, though if no signs of trauma are visible on the carcass, natural causes may be the reason. Decomposition of the carcass is not ideal for research purposes, as much of the valuable analysis can only be conducted with fresh samples.

Nonetheless, the City Beach whale, which has drawn hundreds of spectators over the past two days, is expected to be removed from the beach early this morning.