The fin whale, weighing an estimated 25 tonnes, washed up on Warrnambool’s western outskirts last week. Yesterday it was cut up,  the skeleton taken away by Museum Victoria staff and the blubber carted to a licensed animal waste receival premises at Naroghid.

Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) incident controller Andrew Pritchard said DEPI staff had been working during the past few days with local contractors to remove the whale.

The skeleton was dismantled by Museum Victoria staff and taken to a private property to be prepared for use in the museum’s collection, Mr Pritchard said.

He said some remains would stay on the beach for a few days until the next large swell washed it away.

“We also again remind water users that the whale remains may attract sharks to the area,” Mr Pritchard said.

“We want to remind people to take care in the general area.” 

DEPI arranged the road closure and a 500-metre exclusion zone around the whale while the skeleton was collected. 

Department spokeswoman Melanie Curtis said good weather meant the work progressed well, but it had been necessary to set up the exclusion zone for public  safety. “People were walking all the way up there and then getting upset that they couldn’t get any closer,” Ms Curtis said.

“Some told me earlier they wouldn’t have bothered if the road was closed.

“From the Levys car park it’s a bit of a walk.”

She said DEPI had been working with the Midfield abattoir, Warrnambool City Council, and museum staff to allow them access through the road.