Two Ballito beaches remain closed after a whale carcass was found
|Published
Photograph of a whale carcass being carried off the beach in a front loader. A whale carcass is removed from a KwaDukuza beach after washing ashore at Salmon Bay on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied
Durban – Two beaches in Ballito, on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, will remain closed until Friday because of potential shark activity after a whale calf washed ashore at nearby Salmon Bay on Tuesday.
Willard Beach and Clarke Bay will remain closed as a precautionary measure to allow the KZN Sharks Board to conduct quality checks, the KwaDukuza Municipality said.
It apologised for any inconvenience caused and advised people to use alternative beaches.
KwaDukuza Municipality beach manager Steve Honneyset said the beaches were being checked and tested for any oils or carcass pieces still floating around.
“We have consulted with the Sharks Board and as a safety precaution have been advised to keep the beaches closed for another day as we don’t know if there will be sharks coming around as they would be drawn to the whale carcass pieces at sea.”
The cause of the whale’s death is unknown and the carcass was discarded safely at a landfill site.
In August a humpback whale washed up on Glenashley Beach, in Durban North.
This week a shark activity warning was issued after a bitten humpback whale carcass washed up in Plettenberg Bay, in the Western Cape.