IMAGE: Peter Morris

The humpback whale calf, affectionately named Colin, that tried to suckle from a yacht in waters near Sydney, Australia, is suffering from shark bite wounds and infection. Experts believe it is best to euthanize the calf. From the Sydney Morning Herald:

A spokesman for the service, John Dengate, said the calf, thought to be two- to three-weeks old, would be killed by lethal injection this morning after it was decided it was too dangerous to enter the water after dark.

“They’ll give it an overdose of anaesthetic,” he said last night.

“The last thing we want is that the whale should suffer. The vets are saying ‘he hasn’t got long to go – you should take action’. It was too dangerous to do it last night so we’ll have to relocate it in the morning. It’s not impossible he will have passed away.

“The animal is suffering shark-inflicted injuries, is experiencing breathing difficulties and its flukes are hanging down.”

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