Sarina emergency services, local MP rush to push out dead whale carcass

Swimmers are being warned to stay away from a Qld beach where a whale carcass is attracting tiger and great white sharks to the shoreline and an MP says he fears “people don’t seem to see the danger”.

A regional MP warned the public to stay away from a whale carcass beached nearby and attracting a swarm of sharks and other predators, as a team rushes to push it out to sea.

The sight of marauding sharks in ankle deep water has sparked a warning for swimmers and fishos to stay away from the coastline south of Sarina.

Posting a photo of tiger sharks feasting on a whale carcass 30 minutes south of Mackay on Saturday, Mirani MP Stephen Andrew said he and a group of people and relevant agencies were seeking an appropriate vessel to tow the mammal out to sea as fast as possible, before it decayed too much to be dragged out in one piece.

Mr Andrew was hesitant to highlight the exact location, saying he was concerned interested locals would attempt to get a closer look.

A tiger shark feasts on a dead whale carcass on a beach near Sarina, 30 minutes south of Mackay, on Saturday August 24, 2024. Photo: Contributed

“People are out there starting to swim with these things,” Mr Andrews said.

“It’s not worth it, people just don’t seem to understand the danger of these things.

“The large sharks are in a frenzy and they don’t care much what they eat. So rather than put yourself there, stay out of it. There are other animals that stay back a bit.

“It brings all sorts of predators on the land as well, pigs and dogs.

“Better to be out to sea where they can just eat at it.”

A tiger shark feasts on a dead whale carcass on a beach near Sarina, 30 minutes south of Mackay, on Saturday August 24, 2024. Photo: Contributed

Mr Andrews said there was “pretty high compression as far as the smell is concerned but the Tiger Sharks don’t mind and neither do the Great Whites lurking out a bit deeper”.

“Hopefully we get it towed to sea and let these guys have a good go at it whilst removing the pong from the area.

“No, it doesn’t seem foul play was at work, just like us these things have a life span.”

The Department of Environment and Science has been contacted for comment.

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