{"id":55713,"date":"2026-07-22T03:55:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T03:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/55713\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T03:55:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T03:55:47","slug":"shark-alert-dead-dolphins-spark-bird-flu-testing-predator-warning-off-albany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/55713\/","title":{"rendered":"Shark alert: Dead dolphins spark bird flu testing, predator warning off Albany"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">A dolphin found dead after a pod stranded off Albany is being tested for bird flu as authorities issue a shark warning over another carcass found on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">The first dolphin died despite on Tuesday desperate efforts by members of the public, who waded into the shallows at Albany Waterfront Marina to help save the rest of the pod after they became stranded near Anzac Peace Park.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">Parks and Wildlife officers later removed the carcass from the water. It will be tested for the H5 bird flu virus following recent detections in WA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said the pod of 12 pantropical spotted dolphins were seen near the Albany Entertainment Centre about 6.30am.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">One dolphin appeared to be unwell and died about 7.30am, while the remaining 11 were successfully refloated by members of the public and returned to deeper water by about 8.45am.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">A Department of Transport officer said she had been monitoring the pod since Monday because the dolphins had been behaving unusually.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">But all 12 had been alive and moving throughout the day.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d18758b972030c13726c9d4600c7d35d5d6e3a81.jpg\" alt=\"Rangers load the dead dolphin onto a utility.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\"\/>Camera IconRangers load the dead dolphin onto a utility. Credit: Laurie Benson<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">Standard samples have been taken from the deceased dolphin and submitted for testing after the carcass was reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">The death came as WA remains on alert for H5 bird flu, with recent cases detected in wild seabirds across the State.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">Authorities later issued a shark alert for Melville Point in Princess Royal Harbour, warning that a second dolphin carcass could attract the predators close to shore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development urged people to take extra care around the harbour, obey any beach closures and check the SharkSmart website or app for the latest shark activity.<\/p>\n<p>WHAT TO DOTake additional caution in the Princess Royal Harbour area.Adhere to beach closures advised by local government rangers, Parks and Wildlife Service officers or Surf Life Saving WA.Use your Sea Sense and stay informed by checking for shark activity on the SharkSmart website, SharkSmart WA app or follow @SLSWA on X.If you see a shark, report it to Water Police on 9442 8600. All shark sighting information reported to Water Police is provided to land managers and relevant authorities and to the public on the SharkSmart website, SharkSmart WA app and @SLSWA on X.EXTRA INFORMATION<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-9cqv6l-StyledPNParagraph e8utp6u0\">Switch on your Sea Sense and stay informed of shark activity information by checking the SharkSmart website \u2013 <a class=\"css-445i33-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sharksmart.com.au%2Fshark-activity%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctroy.deruyter%40wanews.com.au%7C334bc5a378c542a7af5c08de7b2fff84%7Ca45470d5309e426fae080255f1aa55cc%7C0%7C0%7C639083643258935396%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=4eGi9mf5%2B089LHiVLqWl4qCLqxq3oCKcWDdKXbPWfN0%3D&amp;reserved=0\">www.sharksmart.com.au\/shark-activity<\/a>, download the SharkSmart WA app or follow @SLSWA on X \u2013 <a class=\"css-445i33-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FSLSWA&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctroy.deruyter%40wanews.com.au%7C334bc5a378c542a7af5c08de7b2fff84%7Ca45470d5309e426fae080255f1aa55cc%7C0%7C0%7C639083643258972920%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=S9jzykRU9a93qKMY4n3LHXN3cIlOERApgIpGmggJ5pc%3D&amp;reserved=0\">x.com\/SLSWA<\/a>. Check <a class=\"css-445i33-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sharksmart.com.au%2Fnews%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctroy.deruyter%40wanews.com.au%7C334bc5a378c542a7af5c08de7b2fff84%7Ca45470d5309e426fae080255f1aa55cc%7C0%7C0%7C639083643258995923%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=zU6PuivG0tEuMre1SKkX3PZJrR5j2VJrc98sy3%2F9NG8%3D&amp;reserved=0\">www.sharksmart.com.au\/news<\/a> for updates to this alert and to view other warnings and media releases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A dolphin found dead after a pod stranded off Albany is being tested for bird flu as authorities&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55714,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[335,1981,464],"class_list":["post-55713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-perth","tag-perth","tag-sharks","tag-wa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55713"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55713\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}