South Australian authorities investigate possible bird flu in dead juvenile whale on Fleurieu Peninsula

South Australian authorities are investigating whether a dead juvenile whale that washed up on a beach near Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula could have bird flu.

Warning: Readers are advised this article includes images of a dead animal.

Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) said a call was made to their hotline this morning, and rangers from the Department for Environment and Water were responding.

A PIRSA spokesperson said the carcass would be tested for H5 bird flu, but a result would not be known for at least a day.

Malakye Muirhead, who found the whale on Dump Beach this morning, told 891 ABC Adelaide he notified authorities of the incident.

"I notified PIRSA … they said they'd be sending someone down," he said.

"I think it could be [bird flu] but I'm not too sure. It could be related."

The ABC understands authorities have moved onlookers off the beach after cordoning off the carcass, as a precaution in case the incident is related to bird flu.

Dead whales an uncommon sight

The Fleurieu Marine Education Centre's Ian Milne said he went to Dump Beach this morning after hearing of the discovery.

While no formal identification of the species had been made, he believed it could be a minke whale.

"They're uncommon around here but not unknown," he said.

"It's a juvenile, about 3.5 metres long, probably weighing about 180 kilograms.

"There's been some notable events in the past but this is uncommon."

Mr Milne said he could not see any signs of injury on the carcass, and while bird flu was a possibility, there were plenty of other potential causes of death.

"It's a possibility but there are other possibilities too," he said.

"It's a juvenile, and we've had some rough weather, so it may have got separated from its pod or mother and perished through lack of contact."

Communities built on the sea

As someone passionate about whales, Mr Milne said seeing the carcass was "disappointing".

"But it happens, and it generates a fair bit of interest when these events do happen, and especially at the moment," he said.

"[Authorities are being safe] and setting up with police and council workers."

Victor Harbor and the Fleurieu Peninsula are home to many animals, including migratory and resident bird and mammals, Mr Milne said.

"We have penguins on Granite Island, we have dolphins in the bay, we've had whales here in whale season.

Mr Milne said the beaches and ocean were a major drawcard for both residents and visitors.

"We have fishers, surfers, snorkellers, divers," he said.

"We have a number of marine environments here, it really is a feature of the place with the islands, the reef, the sandy surf beaches."