A sperm whale, filmed swimming near beachgoers in Western Australia, has passed away after getting stuck on a sandbar. Despite efforts by wildlife officers to guide the injured and severely sunburnt whale back to deeper waters, it succumbed to its condition. On Saturday, swimmers were seen interacting with the 15m (49ft) mammal while it was still alive, raising concerns about risks to both the whale and humans.
The whale’s carcass will now be removed to mitigate potential shark hazards. Sperm whales, the largest toothed whales, are typically deep-sea feeders and are rarely observed near the shore. Authorities were alarmed when the whale approached Port Beach in Fremantle, prompting efforts to save the animal. Despite initial return to the sea, the weakened whale reappeared on Monday at Rockingham, where it stranded itself and, despite rescue attempts, ultimately succumbed to its deteriorating condition on Tuesday.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions plans to conduct post-mortem analysis to better understand the circumstances of the whale’s death and its unusual presence in the area. Sperm whales are listed as endangered in Australia, and efforts are ongoing to recover their numbers after near-extinction due to hunting in the 19th and 20th centuries. Individual whale strandings are not uncommon in Australia, often associated with sickness leading to disorientation.
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