Description

The 16-metre-long adult male sperm whale (Physeter catodon) was caught on a sand bar about 400 metres offshore in mid-June and floated onto the beach a few days later. South Australian Museum mammal collection manager, David Stemmer, said drone footage that identified bruising and blood in the water indicated the whale possibly died from a large vessel striking it. 'We can't know 100 per cent for certain, but there are signs and it's one of the biggest human impacts on whales,' Mr Stemmer said. National Parks and Wildlife Service SA district ranger, Peter Wilkins, said the whale was estimated to be about 45 tonnes so there was no feasible way to move the carcass.