The City of Corner Brook would like to provide an update regarding the deceased whale beached on the shoreline in Wild Cove. After consulting various agencies such as our Provincial and Federal counterparts, it has been decided that the best option is to let the whale decompose naturally where it is. Alternative options were fully explored, but were found to be impractical and carried a high risk of environmental damage to the local landscape.
We appreciate that there is significant public interest in this display of nature, however we do ask the general public to be cautious when approaching the animal during the decomposition process. When driving on the north shore highway please be mindful of the speed limit and avoid parking vehicles along municipal or provincial roadways in ways that impede traffic. We would also like to remind drone operators that Under Canadian federal regulations, it is illegal to operate a drone or any aircraft below 304.8 metres (1,000 feet) within a 926-metre (0.5 nautical mile) radius of a marine mammal—including a whale, whether alive or dead—unless you hold an official research or response permit.
Please join us in showing reverence and respect for the animal and the surrounding ecosystem during this time.
