Stranded 30-tonne Sperm Whale Dies at Western Australia Beach
Published on December 12, 2023
A stranded adult sperm whale weighing more than 30 tonnes has died after becoming stuck on a sandbar off a West Australian beach. The massive mammal, about 15 metres long, was first spotted at Fremantle on Saturday, exhibiting concerning behaviour. It reappeared on Dec. 10 swimming in circles before beaching itself close to shore on Dec. 11 at Rockingham, in Perth’s south, after being hit by a boat. Authorities enforced a safety perimeter as hundreds of people gathered to see the whale, which was about 50 metres from the beach. Marine mammal expert Kelly Waples said it was an unusual sight as sperm whales usually lived in deep water....