The cause of the calf’s death will probably remain a mystery, said Queensland parks and wildlife officers, who consider it possible it was dead before it collided with the 33-metre tug Bulgu.
Given the state of the carcass it is highly unlikely we will be able to ascertain whether the animal was alive or dead at the time of the vessel strike,” according to a briefing note seen by Guardian Australia.
It is understood the tugboat was guiding a coal ship to a BHP berth at Hay Point, south of Mackay, when it struck the whale and suffered engine failure.
Commercial divers found the dead whale ensnared in the propeller beneath the vessel on Wednesday morning and called the RSPCA.