Whale carcasses wash up on Perth beaches amid migration decline

An unusual increase in whale carcasses washing up along Perth beaches has prompted shark warnings and beach closures, including at Sorrento Beach. Scientists are investigating the cause of the surge in wash-ups, noting that the number of whales migrating along the Western Australian coastline is at its lowest in decades.

Capri Jolliffe, research chairwoman at Geographe Marine Research, suggested several potential factors for the decline in whale numbers and the increase in carcasses. These include climate change, declining krill abundance, illness, and the effects of a super El Niño event, which may be altering ocean temperatures and currents.

Observations indicate a significant drop in humpback whale calf numbers, with estimates suggesting 50 to 60 per cent fewer calves than usual. In Exmouth, where up to 12 calves are typically seen daily, the average has dropped to only two.