Despite the best efforts of rescuers, the baby humpback that became stranded on Puckeys beach was euthanised on Thursday evening.
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The decision to put down the animal was made by vets from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
An ORRCA spokeswoman said the whale was an “orphaned calf”.
“There was no way that it could be taken back out to sea because it would not have survived; it would have had zero chance of survival,” the spokeswoman said.
“So the vets have made the decision to euthanise the calf, which is the kindest thing that could be done for it because it was just so very young.”
The spokeswoman reiterated there were no other whales in the area at the time and it would have been “cruel” to send it back out to sea.
A National Parks and Wildlife Service spokeswoman said the newborn humpback, which appeared to be very ill and unresponsive, was discovered at Puckeys beach by members of the public about noon on Thursday.
The spokeswoman said several attempts to refloat the youngster proved futile, while efforts failed to find a parent.
“Past experience shows us that a situation like this with a lone youngster usually ends in mortality,” she said.
“Advice from the vet and ORRCA is that the young humpback will not survive, so rather than let it suffer it’s been decided that euthanasia is the only option.”