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Authorities have tested a dead whale for bird flu after the mammal floated ashore at a popular beach on the Sunshine Coast.
The 6.7-metre juvenile humpback carcass washed up on the sand between Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore late yesterday afternoon.
Authorities have taken samples from the whale to learn the cause of death. (Supplied: Sunshine Coast Council)
An exclusion zone was set up and the animal was left on the beach overnight.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli said authorities managed to remove the whale at high tide, at about 5:30am today.
“We did need to wait for the high tide to be able to tow it and do that carefully — also before the animal begins to decompose,” she said.
A team on the beach wearing hazmat suits shot a flare with a tow rope to a boat waiting about 100 metres offshore.
The boat then connected the rope to its hull, before the people onshore tied the other end of the rope around the whale’s tail.
An exclusion zone was set up on the beach overnight. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Josh Dye)
The carcass will be towed 20 nautical miles, or 37 kilometres, out to sea.
Cr Natoli said the whale displayed no obvious cause of death and has been tested for avian influenza.
A small humpback whale has been towed from the beach between Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore. (Supplied: Sunshine Coast Council)
“Samples have been taken to try to work out the cause of death and what has happened to this whale,” she said.
“This is a majestic animal. It’s very sad when you see this kind of situation.
“It is school holidays so we want to make sure the area is safe for everyone.”
Xavier Agius, 13, was among those who gathered – and held his breath – to watch the dawn removal operation.
“It stinks. That’s a smell you don’t want to smell,” he said.
“I just felt sad because it’s not supposed to be there.
“It’s sad seeing ocean creatures not where they belong.”
The dead whale washed ashore on the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday afternoon. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Josh Dye)
Xavier said it was interesting watching the operation unfold.
“It’s pretty cool to take a photo and experience that, but I don’t want to really see that happen ever again,” he said.
There were no surfers in the water at the usually popular surf beach on Wednesday morning.