Stranded adult whale and calf to be buried under guidance of Eastern Maar

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action incident controller Tim Gazzard said two small whales had been reported beached at Gibson's Steps near Princetown on the Great Ocean Road on May 18, 2024.

He said experienced staff were called to the scene to assess the condition of the whales including a cetacean specialist from the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

"Two Pygmy Sperm whales, an adult female and a calf, were assessed by a veterinarian this morning," he said on May 19.

"The adult female was determined to be deceased. Due to the condition of the calf, the calf was euthanised by the veterinarian."

Mr Gazzard said in preparing for the burial of the whales, one of the carcasses was swept out to sea by strong surf.

"We are monitoring the area in the hope of being able to locate the remaining carcass when the seas abate," he said.

The whale carcass burial will be carried out with the guidance of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

An incident control team was established to manage the response to the stranded whales and Parks Victoria closed the beach to the public.

It was re-opened on Sunday afternoon.

A Parks Victoria spokeswoman earlier said a vet had been called to attend to the stranded whales.

She said the vet would assess the health of the animals and the next steps would depend on that assessment.

She said the whales would either be euthanised or supported to get back into the ocean.

"That will depend on their health," she said.

The whale season in Victoria usually occurs between May and September.

Whale migration occurs when whales leave the Antarctic and head north to warmer waters for breeding, birthing and raising their calves.

The whales migrate through Australia's east, west and southern borders but some of the best whale watching in Australia can be enjoyed along the Great Ocean Road

People can often spot Southern Right whales and Blue whales off the coast breaching, blowing, lob-tailing and tail-flapping.