Overview
- The 25-tonne sperm whale found on rocks at Era Beach was towed about 30 kilometers to Bellambi Boat Ramp and lifted into a large skip with an excavator.
- Surf Life Saving reported seven sharks spotted by drone within one hour near northern Wollongong, which led to evacuations at Woonona and East Corrimal.
- People were told to avoid the water for at least 48 hours, likely 72, as helicopter and drone patrols continue and updates are posted to the SharkSmart app.
- NPWS said it is responsible for the carcass and expects to take it to Wollongong’s Whytes Gully landfill, adding that towing it out to sea was unsafe and that disposal methods may be reviewed.
- NPWS arranged a ceremony with the local Aboriginal Land Council and a Māori representative, while some witnesses described a messy removal that released blood into the water before beaches were closed.