Tragic twist after ‘extremely rare’ sight off Aussie island
Locals rushed to the aid of the humpback whale spotted in distress, but overnight its condition took a sad turn.
Local residents were devastated after a "rare" humpback whale sighting off the Australian coast took a tragic turn overnight. The small adult whale was first spotted "tangled in rope and hiding from predators" in the narrow passage between southern Bribie Island and the mainland in Queensland on Tuesday.
Rescuers from the Maritime Recovery Group, who were on a recreational boat trip at the time of the sighting, rushed to help the whale, telling Yahoo News Australia it was "badly injured" with "a couple of shark bites". Sadly overnight, the whale was spotted lifeless on Wednesday morning by residents off Bongaree Beach.
“At first I thought it was a big rock but that didn't make sense,” local resident Veronique told Yahoo of the sad sighting.
The Maritime Recovery Group said this morning the crew were “very disappointed” to learn the fate of the whale.
“Our crew stayed with the whale all afternoon yesterday and again since daybreak today, so now an autopsy will be done before the whale can be buried. Thanks to all involved and everyone tried but sometimes Mother Nature is in control.”
They earlier explained it’s “extremely rare” to see a humpback whale near the Bribie Island Bridge in the Pumicestone Passage.
A spokesperson from Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation confirmed to Yahoo “a deceased sub-adult or adult whale stranded on Bribie Island this morning.
“It was in poor condition,” they added, but could not confirm reports the whale was tangled in rope. Samples will be taken from the whale and provided to SeaWorld.
They added as the number of whales migrating up the coast continues to grow, "so will the number of whales dying of natural causes and stranding on beaches. When a whale strands, the QPWS works with local councils and Traditional Owners to determine the best method of disposal."
Members of the public are urged to not touch stranded animals or attempt to return stranded whales to the ocean.
Aussies ‘heartbroken’ by sad whale discovery
Locals were quick to express their heartbreak at the news of the whale’s death. “This is horrible news, I saw this beautiful creature yesterday.” said one resident.
“How heartbreaking,” added another.
“The fact it had come into calm, protected waters yesterday did not bode well for it unfortunately,” said one Aussie. “It would have been close to dying then. So sad for the little one.”
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It’s not the first time this migration season that a whale has been trapped in ropes off the Aussie coast. Earlier this month, Wildlife rescuer Taylor Ladd-Hudson, 15, got a call that a whale migrating north for winter got stuck and was “fighting for its life” off Marcoola Beach on the Sunshine Coast.
"It's just so sad to see this, to see humpback whales become entangled in the shark nets and along our coastline during the migrating season off the coast...they don't have spare energy to waste fighting for their lives," she previously told Yahoo News.
This marks the third whale entanglement in the local area since the migrating season began and rescuers are apprehensive for the months ahead, expecting at least 17 of the animals to pass their shores and even more on their return trip after the mating season.
All sightings of stranded marine life, including whales, should be reported immediately to DES on 1300 130 372 or to the relevant council.
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