Full Breakdown
Whale Carcass Washes Ashore at City Beach, Prompting Shark Surge and Removal Challenge
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Early Monday a dead humpback whale stranded on City Beach, a popular Perth shoreline between City Beach and Swanbourne. The carcass attracted several great-white sharks, some up to five metres, that swam within metres of the shore. Local authorities closed the beach and a kilometre north and south as a precaution while they assessed how to move the remains.
Background & Context
The Town of Cambridge dealt with a similar incident at Scarborough Beach in 2014, when the state government covered half of the $188,000 removal bill after a three-day cleanup. That experience is informing current cost concerns, as officials warn the present operation could be “expensive.”
Data & Statistics
- Whale length: reported as 13 m in one account and 10 m in another.
- Estimated weight: about 31 tonnes.
- Sharks observed: a five-metre great-white at 8:30 a.m., a four-metre great-white at 10:46 a.m., and three additional four-metre great-whites around 2:45 p.m. (Watoday, September 28, 2026). A small hammerhead and two tiger sharks were noted further south.
- Beach closure radius: one kilometre north and south of City Beach.
On-the-Ground Reports
Observer Sophie Wormald said the predators would “feed people’s anxieties about swimming.” Whale-watch operator Gemma Sharp suggested towing the carcass offshore to let it sink and keep sharks away.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Gary Mack said the council is obtaining quotes from contractors to transport the carcass to a landfill, likely at Baldivis or Red Hill, and emphasized that public safety will dictate when the beach can reopen. He added that “wild carcasses attract sharks, and people nor their pets should actually go into the water while the beach is closed.”
Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis confirmed that Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions staff are on site and that drum lines have been deployed to tag sharks drawn to the scent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Wild carcasses attract sharks, and people nor their pets should actually go into the water at all while the beach is closed and should look after their personal safety,” — Gary Mack, Cambridge mayor
- “I've been warned by people that were involved in the Scarborough incident ... that it is going to be expensive,” — Gary Mack, Cambridge mayor
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the whale’s exact length (13 m vs 10 m) and on whether the carcass can be towed offshore without breaking up. The Department notes past attempts to tow carcasses out to sea have failed because the Leeuwin Current can return debris to shore, and a definitive plan for this specimen has not yet been confirmed.
What’s Next
Council officials are seeking state-government assistance to fund the removal, which may involve heavy machinery and specialist personnel. The carcass is slated for disposal at a landfill facility, with the earliest safe removal pending final safety checks. Beaches are expected to remain closed for several days until the entire carcass is cleared, and shark-tagging operations will continue while conditions allow.