Wildlife agency informs residents of shark risk after whale beaches itself

The Department of Parks and Wildlife has warned residents to avoid swimming near Quandong beach after sharks were spotted attacking a whale carcass which recently washed up onshore.

DPaW West Kimberley district wildlife officer Peter Carstairs said staff members were alerted to the 12m male humpback whale after it was found by a member of public on Quandong beach.

Mr Carstairs said the onlooker found the whale in a distressed state near the shoreline.

The witness said the whale looked to have deliberately stranded itself and died a short time later.

DPaW officers found the whale with three shark bite marks to the tail area, including the tip of the fluke.

There were abrasions on its tail area and underside, believed to be caused by the whale thrashing on the rocks.

Mr Carstairs said the whale was in a difficult area surrounded by big rocks preventing machinery from accessing the site.

“At this stage it is impossible to bury or remove the whale from the beach,” he said.

“Over the past week there have been a number of sharks observed eating the carcass, including a three-metre tiger shark.

“Due to the heightened shark risk and human health concerns, DPaW does not advocate swimming anywhere near the whale or approaching the carcass.”