Baby humpback whale euthanised after being found on shore at North Haven
Environment Department officials have been forced to euthanase a baby humpback whale, which beached itself at North Haven on Tuesday. SEE VIDEO FROM THE OPERATION.
A baby humpback whale has been euthanased after it was found beaching itself on the shore at North Haven on Tuesday.
State Department of Environment and Water officers were called to the site after reports a three and a half metre newborn whale was beaching itself.
They determined the whale had been separated from its mother and, after consultation with interstate experts, decided euthanasia was the best course of action.
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“DEW Rangers determined the whale would not have survived without its mother … it was decided the most humane course of action was euthanasia,” a DEW spokesperson said.
Local woman Carol Burnside said she’d never known a whale to beach itself in North Haven in the 26 years she’s lived in the area.
“If it’s the most humane thing to do for the animal than we’re all for it,” Ms Burnside said.
Another nearby resident, Meg Denham, said she was glad authorities had taken action to prevent the whale from suffering.
“You don’t want to see it suffer,” Ms Denham said.
The whale’s body will being taken to the South Australian Museum where a necropsy will be undertaken by museum experts.
