Lost humpback whale calf euthanised on Moreton Island

THERE was no fairytale outcome for the whale calf that lost its mother and its way off  Queensland: it was put out of its misery yesterday.

THERE was no fairytale outcome for the humpback whale calf that lost its mother and its way off southern Queensland: alone and beached for the second time this week, the creature was put out of its misery yesterday.

The 1500kg calf, believed to be less than a month old, washed up on Moreton Island off Brisbane and was put down after experts concluded it would be cruel to attempt to send it on its way again.

The infant humpback was dragged off the beach at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast on Monday, amid hopes it would find its mother at sea.

But these were dashed yesterday when it beached again on Moreton Island, against the migratory flow of humpbacks heading to feeding grounds in the Great Southern Ocean.

A team from the Sea World marine park euthanised it.

Experts said a whale calf would generally suckle up to 40 times a day from its mother, and the baby humpback had no chance of survival after so long without sustenance.

Separately, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers confirmed yesterday that a whale carcass washed into a bay of Palm Island, off Townsville, was not that of the iconic white whale Migaloo.

The snowy humpback's annual visit to north Queensland waters has been tracked since it was spotted eight years ago.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP