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Whale carcasses trigger shark alerts at Australian beaches
Authorities in Western Australia have closed a popular beach in Perth’s northern suburbs following the discovery of a whale carcass on Sunday morning. The sighting, reported by Surf Life Saving WA, prompted the City of Joondalup to close the area and issue a shark advice alert, as the remains may attract sharks close to the shore. Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are monitoring the situation.
This incident follows a juvenile whale carcass that washed ashore at Dutch Inn Beach earlier in the week. It marks the second time in three weeks that whale remains have appeared on the Perth coastline, following a 31-tonne humpback whale sighting at South City Beach last month.
In a separate incident in Tasmania, a 10-metre sperm whale died after becoming stranded at Turners Beach. The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service buried the carcass in vegetation using excavators. The decision has raised concerns among local residents regarding the potential for the decomposing body to attract sharks to nearby swimming areas and children's camps.
Entities
City of Joondalup · Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development · Dutch Inn Beach · Perth · Surf Life Saving WA
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A whale carcass was sighted on a beach in Perth’s northern suburbs on Sunday morning. thewest.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] The City of Joondalup closed the beach following the whale sighting. thewest.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] A 31-tonne humpback whale was located at South City Beach last month. thewest.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] A juvenile whale carcass washed ashore at Dutch Inn Beach on Thursday morning. thewest.com.au