Entangled juvenile whale dies on Far South Coast
1.43pm: An office of Environment and Heritage spokesman said a veterinarian had confirmed the juvenile humpback whale found at Long Beach, at the northern end of the Ben Boyd National Park, was dead on September 17.
The rope with red buoy attached which caused the death of a young whale. The humpback washed up on the Far South Coast on Monday, September 17. Pictures: NPWS Field Officer Janaya Chalker.
“The body probably washed ashore overnight and was sighted on the shoreline this morning,” he said.
“It is entangled in a rope buoy line which cut into one of its pectoral fins.
“Removal and disposal options are now being determined.
“NPWS has closed north Ben Boyd NP while disposal is arranged.”
Noon: A juvenile humpback whale spotted entangled off Sydney last week has washed up dead on a Far South Coast beach, wildlife rescuers say.
ORRCA spokeswoman Jools Farrell said the whale was found on the morning of Monday, September 17, in the Ben Boyd National Park between Pambula and Eden.
The small whale was spotted at dusk several days earlier off Maroubra, entangled in rope with a distinctive red buoy, but darkness delayed a search. Strong winds on the weekend hampered search efforts.
The juvenile’s death has sparked calls for fishers to retrieve gear from the ocean.
Ms Farrell said the National Parks and Wildlife Service was at the scene on the Far South Coast and ORRCA was sending a team to measure the whale and collect data.
ORRCA stands for the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia.
Ms Farrell said fishing debris posed a major threat to migrating whales.
Marine debris caused problems for a young whale on the Far South Coast in 2015, but that tale had a happy ending. The news was not so good on September 17, 2018. FILE PICTURE.
“It was the whale that was spotted off Maroubra a few days ago, with the red buoy wrapped around its body with ropes,” she said.
“The rope was around its dorsal and its flipper … I am amazed it got as far as it did.
“They just get exhausted and can’t go any further. Unfortunately, it has traveled as far as it could, and sadly has washed ashore and is deceased.
“Please don’t discard nets and fishing lines over the side of your boat. If something washes over the side, go back and get it.”
She said the discovery ended an anxious wait.
“We have been looking for this whale for days,” she said.
“When we first saw it, it was close to dark; once night falls you cannot send a rescue team out, it is way too dangerous.
“If the weather is bad, it is also too dangerous to send out a rescue team to try to disentangle it.
“We do everything we can, and work in conjunction with NPWS, but we cannot always help.”
Visit www.orrca.org.au/ORRCA
If you see a whale in distress phone the rescue hotline on 9415 3333.
This story UPDATE: Entangled juvenile whale dies on Far South Coast | PHOTOS first appeared on Bay Post-Moruya Examiner.
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