PHOTO: Karyn Maxfield

Beached whale to be put down after multiple failed rescue attempts

in by

A HUMPBACK whale beached on the NSW Mid North Coast will be euthanised after multiple attempts to refloat the 10-tonne mammal failed.

The giant nine-metre-long whale was first spotted stuck in the surf at Sawtell Beach, south of Coffs Harbour, early on Friday morning.

Attempts to rescue the whale failed on Friday and again on Saturday morning, with dangerous surf and heavy rainfall hampering plans to tow the mammal back out to sea.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER THIS ADVERTISEMENT

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) senior wildlife officer Susan Crocetti said in a statement on Friday that the whale was stuck in the ‘surf zone’ which made it difficult for rescuers to reach the animal.

“We have a highly experienced team of specialists assisting with this response and they are doing everything possible to give this whale the best chance of survival,” she said.

It’s understood rescuers made the difficult heartbreaking decision to euthanise the whale late on Saturday morning after the rescue operation was delayed yet again due to bad weather.

Wildlife experts and vets from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, marine mammal rescue group ORRCA, and Seaworld on the Gold Coast were on the scene caring for and monitoring the whale on Saturday.

FEATURE IMAGE: Karyn Maxfield

You might also like
Thousands of delivery drivers to strike across Australia today
Australia eyes Christmas overseas travel
Southern Australia rocked by 6.0 magnitude earthquake
Thousands miss out on Australia, NZ return