sharks swarm whale carcass beaches closed in Australia

Darwin, 27 April : A group of sharks—including great white and bull sharks—have gathered to feed on the carcass of a large whale that washed ashore, prompting authorities to close several beaches in southern Sydney, Australia.

According to AFP, the decision was made on Sunday after the eight-meter-long, 25-ton sperm whale carcass was discovered on rocks at Era Beach in the coastal Royal National Park on Saturday.

Brendan Neilly, Area Manager for the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, said several great white and bull sharks had been spotted in the area.

“It may seem dramatic or frightening to people, but this is a natural process,” he told AFP. “The sharks are helping return the whale carcass to the food chain.”

Neilly added, “I wouldn’t go swimming there, but it’s certainly fascinating to observe.”

Wildlife officials are planning to remove the whale carcass, though this may not be possible before Tuesday.

Surf Life Saving NSW issued a warning stating that due to increased shark activity, all beaches within Royal National Park—including Era, Garie, Burning Palms, and Wattamolla—have been closed.

Stephen Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, told national broadcaster ABC, “We can’t stop people from entering the water, but there are reports of a significant number of large white and bull sharks in the area. Swimming alongside them is not safe.”

According to a database tracking shark attacks, there have been around 1,300 shark-related incidents in Australia since 1791, with over 260 fatalities.

The most recent incident occurred in January, when a 12-year-old boy was killed in a shark attack in Sydney Harbour.