While the case of a whale found 11km upstream in a New South Wales river this weekend was unusual, it was not unprecedented, experts say.
asserted
experts → find → river
The juvenile humpback, which swam into the Clarence River on the state’s mid-north coast and later died, was towed out to sea on Sunday, according to NSW authorities.
uncertain
which → swim → authorities
Members of the public first reported a sick whale swimming into the river near Bundjalung national park on Saturday afternoon.
asserted
whale → report → afternoon
“The whale subsequently swam onto a sandbar and became grounded in shallow water, and within 30 minutes observers indicated the whale had died,” a spokesperson for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service said.
asserted
spokesperson → swim → Service
Increased shark activity in the surrounding area had been reported, with beachgoers advised to avoid surfing, swimming, or diving at surrounding beaches, SharkSmart NSW said in a post to social media.
asserted
NSW → surround → media
Whale scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta said while the circumstances were rare, whales were known to explore rivers and estuaries from “time to time”.
asserted
whales → say → time
This could be the result of “misadventure” or “curiosity”, or due to ill health, as appeared likely for the animal in Clarence River, which looked “extremely unwell”.
uncertain
which → appear → River
Most whales wouldn’t be aiming for the river at this time of year, she said.
asserted
she → aim → year
“Right now the main bulk of the east and the west coast populations are heading south to Antarctica.
asserted
bulk → head → Antarctica
They’re on their way back for their summertime extended Christmas dinner where they’ll be going to Antarctica to feed on krill.
asserted
they → ’re → krill
Earlier this year, in April, another whale became stranded on a sandbar in Wallis Lake on the NSW coast after swimming under the Forster Tuncurry Bridge.
asserted
whale → strand → Bridge
Last year, two humpbacks swam under Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge and into the mouth of the Yarra River.
asserted
humpbacks → swim → River
In 2020, three humpback whales entered the East Alligator River in Kakadu national park, with one travelling 30km upstream.
asserted
one → enter → park
All three eventually made their way back out to sea.
asserted
three → make → sea
While these air-breathing mammals could survive in fresh water environments, it probably wasn’t good for their skin, Pirotta said.
uncertain
Pirotta → breathe → skin
Anyone spotting a whale in an unusual location such as a river, or an animal that appeared to be in distress should alert environmental authorities, she said.
asserted
she → spot → authorities
A spokesperson for Orrca, the cetacean rescue organisation, said while it was unusual for a whale to travel several kilometres into a river system, it was not unprecedented.
asserted
whale → say → system
“Humpback whales regularly travel close to the NSW coastline and may enter bays, harbours and estuarine environments temporarily during their annual migration.”
uncertain
whales → travel → migration
Based on the large number of barnacles and other organisms on its skin, the juvenile in the Clarence River could have been experiencing a chronic illness, injury or another underlying health issue, the spokesperson said.
uncertain
spokesperson → base → illness
“However, the cause of death cannot be determined from imagery alone,” they noted.
asserted
they → determine → imagery
“Each year, approximately 50,000 humpback whales migrate along Australia’s east coast.
asserted
whales → migrate → coast
Across a population of this size, it is unfortunately not uncommon for a small proportion of animals to be observed in poor body condition or displaying other signs of illness, injury or compromised health.
asserted
proportion → observe → illness
”
The unusual event occurred less than a week after a humpback whale carcass washed ashore at Perth city beach, and was attracting multiple sharks, before the body was removed on Thursday.
asserted
body → occur → Thursday
“As with any deceased marine animal, people should avoid entering the water close to the location of the whale carcass, including surrounding beaches, and follow any local warnings or closures that may be in place.
uncertain
that → avoid → place
Whale carcasses can attract scavengers, including sharks,” the Orrca spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → attract → sharks
The Aporia
