<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 20-tonne sperm whale carcass has been towed along the NSW South Coast, sparking an urgent </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sharks" rel="" target="" title="shark warning"><span>shark warning</span></a><span> for local swimmers and surfers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The whale initially washed up on rocks </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/royal-national-park-sydney-beaches-closed-over-shark-risk-after-dead-whale-washes-up-onto-beach/283e29c4-18c3-473d-9e96-186af2455943" rel="" target="" title="at Era in the Royal National Park,"><span>at Era in the Royal National Park,</span></a><span> with Anzac Day beachgoers told to stay out of the water last week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because there is no vehicle access to the remote beach, authorities were forced to wait for ideal conditions to remove the mammal by sea.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Watch the video above.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A removal operation finally began at dawn, with tugboats hauling the whale more than 20 kilometres south before it was hoisted from the water at Bellambi Beach this afternoon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was then taken to the Whytes Gully waste facility in Wollongong.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/reza-adib-charged-queensland-news/1c2893bb-c064-48b0-8b62-24e55573bdd8"><strong><span>Partner of former Queensland premier charged with three counts of rape</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/whale-carcass-bellambi-beach-nsw-shark-warning-towed/5845aa73-ec52-46b1-aafc-f4ffb5dc3d9e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dozens of onlookers gathered as the towing operation unfolded, with many unable to stay long due to the overpowering smell.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albion Park man Darren Malone, 47, estimated that at least 60 people had turned out, but he was left "gagging" as the stench from the decomposing carcass intensified.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Area Manager Brendon Neilly said the lack of access and the scale of the task made it an enormous undertaking.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The location, size and distances made it one of the most challenging operations of its kind," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/shark-attack-surfer-middleton-south-australia/2bf647e6-1b82-4d51-bf41-065de5a08f4d"><strong><span>'Grabbed my foot': Surfer bitten by shark in South Australia</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/jam1M-yRvU4U33lLJtT0lLvHXIg=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F04%2F768537%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Attention has now turned to the coastline between Stanwell Park and Bellambi Point, where Surf Life Saving Illawarra says the carcass has already attracted several sharks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seven sharks were spotted between Woonona and East Corrimal, prompting the duty officer to evacuate people from the water.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A Surf Life Saving Illawarra spokesperson said a UAV drone has been deployed for surveillance, and beach signage has been erected advising the public to remain out of the water until at least Monday.</span></div></div><div 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