Whale's Death A Reality

Sydney Morning Herald

Eminent scientists say the death of baby humpback whales such as Colette is a reality of life in the wild.

The euthanasing on Friday of an orphaned humpback - affectionately called Colin and renamed when identified as a female - has made worldwide news. Angry sections of the community have targeted the National Parks and Wildlife Service over its handling of the whale's plight after it was discovered in shallow waters north of Sydney early last week.

But yesterday leading scientists Rob Harcourt and Nick Gales labelled the reaction as over the top and warned against pandering to hysteria. Dr Harcourt, director of marine science at the Graduate School of the Environment at Macquarie University, said the decision to put down the starving animal after veterinary advice from Taronga Zoo and Sea World was the correct one