Whale beaching: public urged to avoid Bantry Bay

Cape Town – Cape Town residents have been urged to stay away of Bantry Bay after a Southern Right whale carcass washed ashore, the city has said.

In a statement, the city urged members of the public to "steer clear of the area while the removal plan is being developed".

"The city was notified of the carcass this morning, and urges members of the public to steer clear of the area while the removal plan is being developed."

As the carcass has beached in the rocky part of the shore, the removal could be tricky and a further assessment was underway, the city said. Once the plan had been finalised, the removal would occur following the "standard protocol".

"In the meantime, the city continues to monitor the situation."

Late last year there were two other incidences of whales beaching. The first was at Strand when beachgoers watched as bulldozers slowly dragged a 14m humpback whale carcass out of the water.

The second occurred days later when the carcass of another humpback whale  washed up onto the shore at Kommetjie.