UPDATE: Dead whale will be left to feed dingoes

A humpback whale has washed up dead at the southern end of Fraser Island.

A humpback whale, believed to be a baby, washed up at the southern end of Fraser Island. Picture: Contributed

UPDATE Wednesday 2pm:

A DEAD humpback whale that washed up on the southern end of Fraser Island on Sunday will be left as a food source for island animals, wildlife rangers have confirmed.

The 8m male humpback was spotted by Gympie crabber Andrew Gosbell after it washed up dead near Hook Point, who said was attracting dingoes that were making a meal out of it.

A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman said the carcass will be left where it is to provide a food source for other animals, including dingoes on the island.

The death occurred just a day before another juvenile humpback was euthanised at Burrum Point, near Bundaberg after it washed up on shore with injuries on Monday, but a QPWS spokesman said they are not linked.

WATCH: Humpback whale calf euthanised 

"Large numbers of humpback whales reach Queensland waters from late May," the spokesman explained.

"They travel up to the Whitsundays and further north, mating and giving birth along the way, before returning south in the spring. Sightings off southern Queensland taper off in November, with only a few sightings in December."

Strandings can happen for many different reasons including natural mortality, the QPWS spokesman said.

"Humpback numbers have been increasing by an estimated 10 percent per year. As the numbers increase we are seeing a growing number of whale deaths and strandings.

"Stranded marine life may be sick, injured, dying or dead and can occur anywhere along the Queensland coast."

No autopsy was carried out on the whale by QPWS as the carcass had been sitting for too long before discovery.

Stranded whales or other stranded marine wildlife should be reported as soon as possible to the RSPCA on 1300 264 625 (1300 ANIMAL).

STRANDED WHALE: The whale at Woodgate Beach near the Burrum River. Picture: Mike Knott

Wednesday 7am: A HUMPBACK whale has washed up dead at the southern end of Fraser Island.

Believed to be a baby, the carcass was sighted by Gympie crabber Andrew Gosbell near the barge set down point that carries passengers to the island from Inskip Point on Monday.

The dead whale, who is thought to have washed ashore over the weekend, was attracting dingoes who were beginning to make a meal of it, Mr Gosbell said.

The humpback sighting follows just days after another juvenile humpback was euthanised at Burrum Point, near Bundaberg after it washed up on shore with injuries on Monday.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said due to the deteriorated health and the presence of sharks near the whale it had to be humanely put down and was buried on site.

"As the humpback population increases we can expect to see an increase in the number of whale strandings," the spokesperson said.

READ: Humpback whale calf euthanised

At the time of publication, The Gympie Times was unable to contact the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to enquire about the carcass near the Cooloola Coast.

Stranded whales or other stranded marine wildlife should be reported as soon as possible to the RSPCA on 1300 264 625 (1300 ANIMAL).