Cottesloe beaches shut as dead whale carcass removed
A second dead whale has washed up on a Perth beach, again prompting beach closures amid fears of increased shark activity in the area.
The 8-metre, significantly decomposed whale carcass washed up at South Cottesloe beach early today.
Cottesloe Mayor Melissa Harkins told 102.5 ABC Perth all the local beaches were closed while the council arranged for the whale's removal, including the Cottesloe main beach which has a shark barrier in place.
"I would encourage people if they're coming down to the Cottesloe area to stay out of the water for the time being until the carcass is removed and probably for a little while longer," Ms Harkins said.
She said council staff were planning to remove the carcass this morning.
"We are organising for dozers to come in because it's small enough that it would be able to fit on the back of a Town of Cottesloe truck and we'll remove it and it will go to landfill," she said.
The council anticipates it can remove the carcass using its own equipment. (Supplied: Stephen Grainger)
This is the second whale to wash up on a Perth beach in recent weeks.
On September 27 a 13-metre, 72-tonne humpback whale carcass washed up on south City Beach, which ultimately required a crane and cost almost $180,000 remove.
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