Decomposing whale carcass reemerges on Sydney's Malabar Beach

Decomposed whale carcass closes Malabar beach in Sydney's eastBy Declan Bowring702 ABC SydneyTopic:AnimalsPosted Tue 27 Oct 2026 at 7:23amTue 27 Oct 2026 at 7:23amMalabar Beach was closed on Tuesday after the remains of a young whale washed up late on Monday. (ABC News: Declan Bowring)A whale carcass that washed up on Sydney's eastern shore last week has re-emerged at Malabar, prompting Randwick Council to close the beach. At least two large pieces of the decomposing whale were floating against the shore on Tuesday morning, having been fenced off by the council late on Monday. Randwick Council lifeguards closed the beach over fears the body might attract sharks. Council closed the beach over concern the carcass may attract sharks. (ABC News: Declan Bowring)A council spokesperson said the staff would remove the carcass on Tuesday morning and would keep the beach closed until further notice."Strong currents have moved the juvenile whale carcass, previously at Lurline Bay, to Malabar Beach, where it has now washed ashore," the spokesperson said."Council lifeguards have closed the beach and barricaded the area to keep the public safe."The young whale washed up at Lurline Bay just north of Maroubra Beach on Thursday last week. Council closed both Maroubra and Coogee beaches as a precaution on Thursday. Council and the Indigenous ranger group Gamay Rangers responded to the carcass. Senior ranger Rob Cooley said on Thursday their preference was to let nature take its course as the carcass was too hard to reach with machinery and was in an advanced state of decomposition. It had been found with rope around one of its pectoral fins, which Mr Cooley said was from a previous attempt to take the whale out to sea when it had been found off Sydney's northern beaches in days prior to landing at Lurline Bay.