Arabic version: إزالة جثة حوت تؤدي إلى تحذير من أسماك القرش في نهر كلارنس

According to ABC News, a juvenile humpback whale found dead on a sandbar in the Clarence River has been removed to sea, but a marine biologist has warned that sharks may still be drawn to the area by lingering scent.

Crown Lands removed the carcass from the river west of Iluka, on New South Wales’ Mid North Coast, on Sunday afternoon. Volunteer whale rescue organisation ORRCA was notified at 1:30pm on Saturday and said there had been concerns the whale may have been stranded, though volunteers found it deceased.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development issued a warning through Shark Smart social media accounts after increased shark activity was reported. Macquarie University marine biologist Culum Brown said the carcass had been on the sandbar long enough to release smells into the river and surrounding area that sharks could detect from a considerable distance.

Dr Brown advised people not to swim in the river or adjacent beaches for about a week. He also said it was unusual for the whale to have travelled 11 kilometres up the river, suggesting it may have entered the mouth with its mother before continuing upstream.

Brooms Head photographer Amiria Takarangi recorded footage of the whale. She said filming the deceased animal was unsettling, but that she wanted to show compassion, build understanding and share any knowledge she could gather.