Beach-goers joined forces in a remarkable event in Noosa on Wednesday as they helped rescue a juvenile whale shark struggling in shallow water.
Noosa resident Carley Jane Pan saw the animal becoming stuck between rocks off Noosa National Park before jumping in with a group of locals to set it free.
Carly said it was a very unexpected yet amazing experience.
“My husband had just been for a surf and we were walking down the hill towards the National carpark and we saw there was a whale shark floundering around really close to the edge,” she said.
“I thought it was really strange, I’ve lived here for 20 years and never known whale sharks to be in the area even, let alone close to the rocks.
“It became clear it was really trying hard to beach itself on the rocks and so about 10 people jumped in the water to help rescue it.
“It flipped over at one stage and a couple of guys managed to turn it over. One of its fins was edged under the rocks so we just had to wait until the water washed up and then we managed to pull it off.
“It kept circling and trying to come back but everyone sort of stood in its way and tried to steer it back out to sea and eventually it ended up in deeper water at Little Cove.”
Carly said the whale shark felt like sandpaper.
“We’ve got grazes on our legs and hands where we got scratched, which you wouldn’t think it would feel like that.”
The Australia Zoo Rescue Team, veterinarians and veterinary nurses responded to reports of the stranded whale shark.
“Upon arrival, the team met with The Department of Environment and assessed the animal’s health,” an Australia Zoo spokeswoman said.
Dr Jaimee from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital believes the young shark may have entered shallow waters to avoid predators, where it became disoriented and stressed.
“Thankfully, when the shark made its way into deeper water, it was much more relaxed and swimming very well,” Dr Jaimee said.
“The team spent most of the day ensuring the whale shark was okay.”
Life savers and rangers will continue to monitor the animal.
In 2019, Wildlife Warriors partnered with Ecocean to further research these secretive endangered animals.
“Since partnering, we have responded to calls of other whale sharks in unusual places,” the spokeswoman said.
“In 2019, we monitored a whale shark that swam into the Wenlock River in Queensland’s Cape York.”
To support Australia Zoo’s whale shark research and rescue work, visit wildlifewarriors.org.
