A humpback whale has become beached on a sand bank in shallow water at Port Kennedy in Perth’s southern suburbs.
The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) staff are at the scene and liaising with vets to “determine the most appropriate course of action”.
The humpback whale stranded itself in shallow waters in the Port Kennedy marine park. (Facebook: Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia)
Port Kennedy beach is closed, and members of the public are being asked to stay away from the area to avoid causing stress to the whale.
The department also said the whale was likely to attract sharks to the area.
Incident controller Benson Todd said veterinarians were assessing the animal.
“The team from Perth Zoo have arrived … they’ll undertake an assessment and that’ll help guide our next steps,” he told 102.5 ABC Perth.
Veterinarians from Perth Zoo will assess the whale. (Supplied: Danielle Barrett )
Mr Benson said the whale, which is around nine metres in length, did not look well.
“It’s quite compromised,” he said.
“It does have quite a bit of growth over it, which tells me it’s perhaps not in the best condition.”
Onlookers have gathered at the scene of the beaching. (ABC News: Blake Kagi)
He said the incident was drawing a crowd and urged people to be respectful when in the area.
“We’ve pulled the crowd back, a little bit away from the whale just so everyone is safe and also the whale’s not under any extra stress.”
The whale has attracted a crowd. (Supplied: Danielle Barrett )