Overview
- Surf lifesavers who arrived for patrols Saturday found a decomposed whale on rocks at Era Beach, triggering immediate beach closures and shark surveillance.
- Garie, Era and Burning Palms remain closed as drones, jet skis and aerial patrols monitor shark activity along the Royal National Park coast.
- Officials say the remains are a partial sperm whale measuring about 8.5 to 9 metres and weighing roughly 25 tonnes, with no known cause of death yet.
- National Parks plans to tow the carcass to a point where it can be lifted onto a truck and taken to a commercial waste facility, a complex task likely pushed to next week due to limited access.
- Authorities report sightings of great white and bull sharks near the carcass and urge people to stay out of the water during the busy long weekend.