National Parks and Wildlife officers are investigating the death of a sperm whale off the coast of South Australia's Yorke Peninsula.
The juvenile sperm whale, which is up to 7 metres long, was observed floating onto a submerged reef at Corny Point, where it came to rest on Tuesday.
It had been seen alive last weekend in nearby Hardwicke Bay but looked to be in poor health, according to a statement from South Australia's Department for Environment and Water (DEW).
Members of the public have been advised to keep a safe distance from the carcass because there may be sharks in the area.
"Whale carcasses will naturally break down over time but this can be a slow process that takes several months," a DEW spokesman said.
"Members of the public are advised to stay a safe distance from the carcass as marine animals can carry various zoonotic diseases that are transmissible to humans.
"Sharks also will be attracted to the carcass, which potentially creates an increased risk for water users in the area."
Park rangers are working with other agencies to decide how to remove the carcass from its location off the Yorke Peninsula's west coast.
Seven sperm whales were found stranded on the other side of the Yorke Peninsula in 2014.
Sperm whales are not endangered but are considered rare in South Australia.
