Clayton’s Towing brought in to bury dead Rainbow Beach humpback whale

The mammoth task of removing and burying an 18-tonne whale carcass washed up on the Cooloola Coast fell to a company with an equally large reputation.

The mammoth task of disposing of an 18 tonne dead whale near Rainbow Beach has fallen to a Clayton’s Towing . Picture: DES

The mammoth problem of removing the carcass of one of the ocean’s largest creatures landed on the shoulders of a business with a reputation to match the sizeable problem this week.

Clayton’s Towing spent Wednesday loading up and removing the body of a 12m, 18-tonne humpback which had washed ashore at Inskip Point, near Rainbow Beach, the day before.

Residents found the carcass north of the tourist town, near the ramp accessing the beach drive to Inskip Point.

Rainbow Beach resident Greg McCarthy said on Facebook the whale’s body appeared to be in “very good condition” and “the only damage seemed to be a little bit around the tail”.

The whale, described as “mature”, died of natural causes, authorities believe.

The dead whale washed ashore between Monday June 19 and Tuesday June 20, 2023.

On Tuesday night Rangers and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service said the options available were either moving the whale further onto land and burying it or towing it out to sea.

The first option was the route taken.

In a post on Clayton Towing’s Facebook page, a spokesman for the company said it was called in for “a job with a difference”.

Clayton’s Towing was engaged to tow the dead animal, which washed up at Rainbow Beach, into the Great Sandy National Park where it was buried. Picture: DES

“After digging it out we then winched it out with the excavator, up through the cutting, onto our super tilt,” they said.

“(It) Was then transported away to go in one big hole and buried.”

A Department of Environment spokesman said the mammal was buried deep in the Great Sandy National Park to prevent it from attracting sharks, and to keep any smell from affecting people in the area.

Clayton’s Towing undertook the mammoth task on Wednesday, strapping the dead whale to a super tilt tray and taking it to be buried in “one big hole” elsewhere. Picture: Clayton’s Towing

“Depending on the location, deceased whales can also be left in-situ, and as part of the natural processes, providing food for birds, crustaceans and other marine and terrestrial animals,” the spokesman said.

“Whenever a whale strands, people are advised to stay away from the animal. Whales can carry zoonotic diseases, so people are advised never to touch them.

Clayton's Towing was forced to dig around the whale’s carcass before towing it away.

“People must be aware that if a whale is stranded in shallow water, sharks may be present. People may feel compelled to assist the animal, but personal safety must come first.”

Much-loved Noosa golfer confirmed as random attack victim

He said any sightings of stranded marine life, including whales, should be reported to the DES and local council.

The death of this whale, follows the death of a young humpback which became stranded at the mouth of the Susan River on the Fraser Coast on Friday.

Whale watching season officially launches in July.’