A juvenile humpback whale spotted entangled off Sydney last week has washed up dead on a Far South Coast beach, wildlife rescuers say.
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The stricken whale made it past Batemans Bay and Narooma, before washing up south of Pambula.
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 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 were being determined and the National Parks and Wildlife Service closed north Ben Boyd NP while disposal was arranged.
ORRCA spokeswoman Jools Farrell said 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.
Read more: Decapitated whale calf closes Bondi Beach
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.
“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.