Authorities have euthanized a juvenile humpback whale after it washed ashore at Port Macquarie on the NSW north coast.
Key points:
- A young humpback whale has been euthanized at Port Macquarie’s Oxley Beach
- The animal had become wedged between dangerous rocks and waves
- Authorities say there was no sign of the whale’s mother nearby
The young whale, believed to be around a week old, initially wedged itself between the rocks at Oxley Beach this morning after being separated from its mother.
Abbey Woodbridge was walking along a local coastal path with a friend when she saw it around 9:15 a.m. and notified authorities.
“I saw the whale about 100 meters from the shore and then it got closer and closer. We got closer to look at it and see how far it had come,” he said.
A young whale became stranded on ‘dangerous’ rocks at Port Macquarie’s Oxley Beach (ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
“Then he got stuck on the rocks and was very distressed.”
Maria Ledgerwood was with Mrs Woodbridge and said it was a disturbing situation.
“The poor guy is getting more stressed against the rocks and he’s getting a lot of abuse,” he said.
“We were very close to the whale before and I could see its eyes and it broke my heart a little bit. I had to get away.”
Rescue teams worked to get the whale away from the dangerous rocks (ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Rescue attempts
Members of the Australian Cetacean Research and Rescue Organization (ORRCA) were on site, as well as police, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, members of Surf Life Saving and local council staff.
ORRCA Vice President Jools Farrell said the whale was initially caught in a very difficult position and was difficult to access when crews arrived.
“It’s a very difficult situation,” he said.
“It’s on the rocks, which makes it even more difficult, especially for the people who are evaluating it.”
A young whale has been euthanized after stranding on Port Macquarie’s Oxley Beach. (ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)
Rescue teams worked to remove the whale from the dangerous reef and surf, before a marine vet assessed its health.
“It was in bad shape and likely has been bad for a few days,” said Shane Robinson, area director for the Nationals Parks and Wildlife Service.
“At this stage in his life he is completely dependent on his mother … we did a search of the area with our drone and there was no mother visible in the vicinity,” he said.
Robinson said the most humane thing to do was to euthanize the whale because it “wouldn’t survive on its own.”
It is estimated that the whale was about 4.2 meters long and weighed about two tons.
Rescue efforts are underway to save the whale at Oxley Beach. (ABC Mid North Coast: Madeleine Cross)