Swimming banned after whale carcass washes up near Umhlanga lagoon
Bathing has been banned at several beaches between Umdloti and Umhlanga,
north of Durban after a whale carcass washed up just north of the
Umhlanga lagoon last night.
The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board says authorities are currently assessing the situation to try and formulate a plan to remove the carcass.
PHOTOS: Whale carcass removal operation still underway
The board's Mike Anderson-Reade says the adult humpback whale carcass had been towed about 15 nautical miles out to sea after it was spotted off Umdloti yesterday.However, he says the strong north easterly wind pushed it back onto the beach overnight.
Anderson-Reade says there was significant tiger shark activity around the carcass when it was towed out to sea by the National Sea Rescue Institute.
You can listen to Newswatch journalist, Shaun Ryan's full interview with Anderon-Reade below:
Anderson-Reade says shark safety gear will be pulled from the water when conditions allow crews to do so.
He says the whale carcass is more than 15 metres long.
Meanwhile, a juvenile humpback whale beached at Pipeline, near Amanzimtoti, south of Durban in August.
The whale died on the shoreline before authorities reached the scene.
He says the whale carcass is more than 15 metres long.
Meanwhile, a juvenile humpback whale beached at Pipeline, near Amanzimtoti, south of Durban in August.
The whale died on the shoreline before authorities reached the scene.
Municipal officials had to cut the carcass up before it could be disposed of at a landfill site.