Tragic turn of events after “extremely rare” sight off Australian island

Local residents were devastated after a sighting of a “rare” humpback whale off the Australian coast took a tragic turn overnight. The small adult whale was first spotted “tangled in a rope and hiding from predators” in the narrow passage between southern Bribie Island and the Queensland mainland on Tuesday.

Rescue workers from the Maritime Recovery Group, who were on a recreational boating trip at the time of the sighting, rushed to the whale's aid and told Yahoo News Australia it was “seriously injured” and had sustained “a few shark bites”. Unfortunately, the whale was discovered lifeless by local residents off Bongaree Beach on Wednesday morning.

“At first I thought it was a big rock, but that didn’t make sense,” local resident Veronique told Yahoo about the sad sighting.

The Maritime Recovery Group said this morning that the crew was “very disappointed” to learn of the whale's fate.

“Our crew stayed with the whale all afternoon yesterday and again since daybreak today. A necropsy will now be performed before the whale can be buried. Thank you to everyone involved and everyone who tried, but sometimes Mother Nature is in control.”

They previously stated that it was “extremely rare” to see a humpback whale near the Bribie Island Bridge in the Pumicestone Passage.

A spokesperson for Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation confirmed to Yahoo that “a deceased subadult or adult whale was stranded on Bribie Island this morning.”

“He was in poor condition,” they added, but could not confirm reports that the whale had become entangled in a rope. Samples will be taken from the whale and given to SeaWorld.

They added that as the number of whales migrating up the coast increases, “the number of whales dying of natural causes and stranding on beaches will also increase. When a whale strands, the QPWS works with local councils and traditional owners to determine the best disposal method.”

The public is urged not to touch stranded animals or attempt to return stranded whales to the sea.

Australians “heartbroken” over sad whale discovery

Locals immediately expressed their shock at the news of the whale's death. “This is terrible news. I saw this beautiful creature yesterday,” said one resident.

“How heartbreaking,” added another.

“The fact that it came into calm, protected waters yesterday unfortunately did not bode well for it,” said an Australian. “It would have been close to death. So sad for the little one.”

New push to remove nets after whaling

It is not the first time this migration season that a whale has become entangled in ropes off the Australian coast. Earlier this month, 15-year-old wildlife rescuer Taylor Ladd-Hudson received a call that a whale migrating north to overwinter was stuck off Marcoola Beach on the Sunshine Coast and “fighting for its life.”

“It's just so sad to see this, to see humpback whales getting entangled in shark nets and on our shores during migration season off our coast… they don't have any energy left to waste fighting for their lives,” she previously told Yahoo News.

This is the third time a whale has become entangled in the area since the start of the migration season. Rescue workers are concerned in the coming months as they expect at least 17 whales to pass through their shores and even more on their return journey after the breeding season.

All sightings of stranded marine life, including whales, should be reported immediately to DES on 1300 130 372 or to the relevant council.

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