‘Almost looks fake’: two Sydney beaches closed after whale carcass washes up
Swimming banned at Maroubra and Coogee while council prioritises ‘culturally respectful’ approach to remains

TL;DR
- Two Sydney beaches, Coogee and Maroubra, have been closed due to a whale carcass washing ashore at Lurline Bay.
- The whale is believed to be a juvenile humpback.
- The council is not planning to remove the carcass, opting for a natural decomposition process.
- A culturally and environmentally sensitive approach is being prioritized, with consultation from Gamay Rangers.
- The carcass was previously spotted near Manly, where attempts were made to tow it out to sea.
- Authorities are also managing a separate incident of a whale stuck in shallow waters off Tasmania.