Whale calf beached near Geraldton ‘unlikely to survive’

A small whale found beached near Port Gregory in WA’s Mid West this morning is unlikely to survive.

A spokesperson for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said it was most likely a baby humpback whale but was unable to confirm this.

“One wildlife officer just made it there but was unable to locate it,” she said.

“It was beached this morning. We are not sure if it will come back.”

She said baby humpback whales often washed up alone if they were weakened and exhausted.

“If it has been separated from its mother it is unlikely to survive and will most likely wash up somewhere else,” she said.

“It often happens when there has been a bit of weather. The prognosis is not good.”

She said the department preferred to euthanise beached baby whales as the most humane treatment.