Multiple reports indicate that sharks have been seen circling off beaches in Australia after a huge whale carcass washed ashore in Era in Sydney's Royal National Park. The circling sharks have forced authorities to close popular beaches, with swimmers warned to stay away from the water. Beaches between Garie and Burning Palms, including Wattamolla and Era, have been shut due to the risk of attack.
Drones have been used to survey the sea for predators. The heavily decomposed whale carcass was first spotted by beach lifeguards on a rocky ledge early this morning. Emergency services carried out an aerial inspection which led them to discover an increased number of sharks circling in the area. According to a statement from New South Wales National Parks, "This has resulted in heightened shark activity along the coastline, with large sharks sighted in the area."
This has resulted in heightened shark activity along the coastline, with large sharks sighted in the area.
It is unclear what species of whale it is, but the carcass has been decaying for some time. More people were expected to visit the beaches this weekend because of an Australian bank holiday. There has been a wave of shark attacks in Australia, including one in January which killed a 12-year-old boy. Stephen Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, warned: "Our warning is, 'Don't go in the water'. We can't prevent people from going in the water, but knowing just how many sharks are there and the reports of larger white and bull sharks in the water, they're not the fish you want to be swimming in the same water with." He added that National Parks will have to make arrangements to remove the carcass.
Our warning is, 'Don't go in the water'. We can't prevent people from going in the water, but knowing just how many sharks are there and the reports of larger white and bull sharks in the water, they're not the fish you want to be swimming in the same water with.
National Parks will have to make arrangements to try and come in and determine what they're going to do with the carcass. I think they're obviously going to have to remove it.