Watery grave: Metres from the crashing surf of his ocean home, a humpback whale lies dead in the stillest of waters of a public poolYards from the crashing surf of his ocean home, a humpback whale lies dead in the glassy waters of a public pool.
The sea monster beached himself in this seaside swimming basin by Newport Beach, near Sydney, Australia, while travelling to warmer northern climes.
But where great waves once splashed and sprayed against his powerful frame, gentle ripples now lap with poignant tranquility. For this is the stillest of watery graves.
And at 32-feet from tail to snout - the exact same length as a London double-decker bus - he is, without doubt, a leviathan of the deep end.
Majestic: The 32-metre leviathan of the deep beached himself in this seaside swimming basin by Newport Beach, near Sydney, Australia, while travelling to warmer northern climesWhether he was abandoned by his pod or simply couldn't keep up because of age or injury is unclear.
But it is now a nervous wait to see if the next high tide will rise enough to reclaim him back into his Pacific heartland.
If not, the New South Wales wildlife authorities must find a way to remove the rotting carcass, which is already beginning to emit a putrid smell.
One whale of a stink: The New South Wales wildlife authorities must find a way to remove the rotting carcass, which is already beginning to emit a putrid smellWhale beachings are common in Australia, but rough seas and a high tide washed the 20 to 30 tonne humpback whale over a chain safety fence late on Tuesday and into a public salt water swimming pool at Sydney's Newport beach.
National Parks authorities said they hope the whale carcass might float out of the pool area on the next high tide. Otherwise, workers might have to bring in a crane to remove the whale and then carve up the carcass.
Sad sight: Whether he was abandoned by his pod or simply couldn't keep up because of age or injury is unclear
Watching and waiting: But it is now a nervous wait to see if the next high tide will rise enough to reclaim him back into his Pacific heartland
Northern route: Humpbacks are a regular sight along Australia's east coast as they head north to warmer breeding waters in June and July, often coming close to shore when feeding
Humpbacks are a regular sight along Australia's east coast as they head north to warmer breeding waters in June and July, often coming close to shore when feeding.
Whales usually return to feeding waters in Antarctica between September and November.
One swimmer told Australian radio he saw the whale when he turned up for his regular morning dip.
'I swim every day and I'm not sharing my lane with that,' he said.
source: dailymail
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