PERTH, Australia - A humpback whale that appeared to have been fatally attacked by a pod of killer whales washed up on an Australian beach Thursday, a conservation official said.
The whale carcass was found in shallow surf on Tern Island south of the Western Australia state capital Perth with signs that it had been attacked at sea, said Doug Coughran of the state's environment and conservation department.
"The whale has injuries indicative of killer whale activity," Coughran said.
"Killer whales often take out the bottom jaw of whales and eat the tongue, and that is what has happened on this occasion," he said.
He said the humpback's body also had signs that it had been chewed by sharks.
Coughran said the body would be moved so that it did not attract sharks and other predators to the area.
Humpback whales are currently migrating north from the Antarctic Ocean, and are commonly seen near Australia's coast at this time of year.
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