Yesterday morning, a whale was found stranded at Sandy Point Beach, located in Victoria’s Gippsland area, several hundred meters away from the nearby surf lifesaving club.

The mammal is decomposing with bites along its tail after being partially eaten by sharks in the water.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action announced on social media that “The beach has been shut down to avoid potential health risks to people as the whale’s body decomposes.”

“Whales are protected under the Wildlife Act.

“It is an offence for people or their dogs to be within 300 metres of a whale, whether it is dead or alive.

“It is an offence to interfere with, take or be in possession of parts of a dead whale.”

Sandy Point Beach is expected to closed until Monday.