# Whale carcass discoveries at Australian beaches

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/whale-carcass-discoveries-at-australian-beaches
> Updated: 2026-10-25T01:37:16.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

Multiple whale carcasses washing ashore along the Australian coastline have prompted authorities to close beaches and issue shark alerts due to the risk of increased predator activity. 

In Sydney, Coogee and Maroubra beaches were closed indefinitely after a carcass was found near Lurline Bay. Local officials, including the Randwick City Council, are coordinating removal efforts with an emphasis on being “culturally respectful” to the local Bidjigal people. Experts noted the animal may have been a younger humpback whale, potentially killed by entanglement in fishing gear.

In Western Australia, the City of Joondalup closed a beach in Perth’s northern suburbs following a sighting reported by Surf Life Saving WA. This follows a series of similar incidents in the region, including a juvenile whale at Dutch Inn Beach and a 31-tonne humpback at South City Beach. 

In Tasmania, a 10-metre sperm whale became stranded at Turners Beach. The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service used excavators to bury the carcass in vegetation, a move that prompted concerns from residents regarding shark attraction to nearby swimming areas.

## Claims

- A whale carcass was sighted on a beach in Perth’s northern suburbs on Sunday morning. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The City of Joondalup closed the beach following the whale sighting. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A juvenile whale carcass washed ashore at Dutch Inn Beach on Thursday morning. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A 31-tonne humpback whale was located at South City Beach last month. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-25: Whale carcasses trigger shark alerts at Australian beaches

Whale carcasses discovered at beaches in Perth and Tasmania have prompted shark alerts and beach closures due to the risk of attracting predators to swimming areas.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whale-carcasses-trigger-shark-alerts-at-australian-beaches

### 2026-10-21: Sydney beaches closed after whale carcass washes ashore

Coogee and Maroubra beaches in Sydney have been closed following the discovery of a whale carcass, sparking fears of increased shark activity and requiring culturally sensitive removal efforts.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/whale-carcasses-trigger-beach-closures-across-australia

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Cite as: Whale carcass discoveries at Australian beaches. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/whale-carcass-discoveries-at-australian-beaches