SA Museum whale research falls 'in a heap' as humpbacks arrive on southern coast

A marine biologist says the SA Museum's whale sighting and stranding programs have "fallen in a heap" due to lack of paid staff.Migrating whales are starting to arrive in Australian waters and a marine biologist says a research team dedicated to studying the creatures is on the brink of collapse.

"We used to go and collect all the time and do the necropsies, if we could, and report back to the parks people or fisheries or local community people," she said. Mr Gilmore said the whale was covered in lice, lethargic, losing skin and that there was a possibility it had an injury from a boat on its left side.There was no way to aid the animal, but in previous years SA Museum staff would have gone to investigate.

In a statement a spokesperson for the SA Museum said the Department of Environment and Water had a responsibility to collect data on whale numbers and strandings in the state. He said as well as the numerous early humpback sightings he had also heard of an unconfirmed sighting of up to six southern right whales around the Bunda Cliffs.

Humpback Sa Museum Catherine Kemper Whale Watching Victor Harbor Fowlers Bay South Australia Museum Victor Harbor Whale Sick Whale Victor Harbor

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