Sydney eastern beaches closed after whale carcass washes ashore at Lurline Bay

Coogee and Maroubra beaches in eastern Sydney have been closed after a whale carcass was spotted floating against the coastline at Lurline Bay. Randwick Council said the beaches would remain shut to swimmers until further notice while lifeguards monitor the situation and arrangements are made to remove the animal. The closure affects two of the city's best-known urban beaches and comes after the dead whale was seen this morning.

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The council said the beaches would stay closed while it works with local stakeholders and authorities on the removal. Whale scientist Vanessa Pirotta said the animal was likely a young adult or teenage humpback whale, rather than a baby as first described by the council. She also warned that sharks could be drawn to the area and strongly advised people not to swim there.

The incident has immediate public-safety implications because the carcass is close to a heavily used stretch of coastline. Authorities have not said how long the closure will last, but the warning to swimmers is in place until the situation is resolved. The presence of a large marine carcass can also complicate beach management, particularly in a densely populated urban area where swimming, surfing and coastal recreation are routine.

The closure also fits into a broader pattern of whale carcasses washing up on Sydney's coast this year. In July, a juvenile humpback whale calf washed up on Greenhills Beach in Sydney's Sutherland Shire and was tested for H5N1 bird flu, with a negative result. In April, several beaches in the Royal National Park were closed for days after a carcass that attracted sharks washed up on the rocks at Era Beach.

Humpback whales are a familiar presence off Australia's east coast, and sightings are common during migration periods. But when a whale dies near shore, the response can quickly shift from wildlife observation to public safety and environmental management. In this case, the council's warning reflects both the practical challenge of removing the carcass and the need to reduce risk to swimmers while marine life may be drawn to the area.

What remains unclear is how the whale died and how long the beaches will stay closed. Authorities have not provided a timeline for removal, and no further details have been released about the condition of the carcass or any possible cause of death. The key developments to watch are the removal operation, any update on beach reopening, and whether further marine activity is reported near Lurline Bay.

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