Tags:
October
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port
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8
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Parham
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Fin
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Whale
Port Parham resident Alvin Jenkin attempts to claim a fishing record in this picture - supplied by his son, Michael.
Crowds view beached whale at Port Parham
A dead whale has washed ashore at Port Parham.
The 17.2 metre Fin whale carcass was spied floating offshore on Saturday, and by Monday morning had washed ashore.
The unusual spectacle drew plenty of spectators before the carcass was dismantled and removed yesterday (Wednesday). The skeleton will be used by the South Australian Museum.
Mammals curator and senior researcher, Catherine Kemper, said the whale had probably died on Thursday or Friday.
In the southern hemisphere, the Fin whale grows to about 25 metres.
When word got out about the whale, visitors flocked to Port Parham. For some, it was the first time they had heard of the seaside town.
A steady stream of traffic made the trek about 700 metres from the high tide line to get a close-up view.
Some were more adventurous than others, ignoring the stench of decay to touch the whale.
PHOTO BELOW (taken by Lisa Redpath): People gather to view the whale at low tide. It was a trek of about 700 metres from the beach.
