Dead seal left to rot for a week on Malabar Beach
WHEN a seal’s carcass was found decomposing on Malabar Beach, a resident phoned it in. Authorities washed their hands of the body, quickly becoming a health hazard, for a week.
Southern Courier
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FINDING a marine mammal’s carcass washed up on shore is a distressing event, what do you do next?
When local Michelle Cowan found a dead seal at Malabar Beach, she knew she had to contact someone to remove the body.
But little did she realise how hard it would be to find someone to help her.
After finding the dead animal on January 4, it took a week for the carcass to be removed.
“I almost walked onto the carcass of a dead adult seal that obviously somehow got stuck up on the rocks after the king tide of last Tuesday,” Ms Cowan said.
She rang the Department of Primary Industries, then Randwick Council, but hit a dead end.
A few days on the carcass was giving off a “deathly smell” and started to pose a health risk.
Randwick Council removed the carcass last Thursday when it became apparent no other government organisation would.
“Removal of deceased marine animals is a specialised job, and one that council rangers are not permitted to carry out,” a council spokeswoman said.
She said the council had to engage an animal control specialist to remove the carcass.
There are no clear guidelines for how the carcasses of marine mammals should be removed but the Office of Environment and Heritage is reviewing how whale or seal carcasses should be handled.
“In response to growing public concern that whale carcasses buried on beaches attract sharks and negatively impact the local environment, the Government is reviewing how we manage deceased whales in NSW,” the department states.
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It said councils, the DPI, or land managers could all be held responsible for managing deceased whales and seals. The department is expected to release information on disposing dead marine mammals early this year.
If you come across an injured or sick marine mammal, please report it to EnviroLine on 131 555