Whale riding teen rides out of court escaping a $10,000 fine

A teenager who climbed onto the back of a whale off an Albany beach has received only a warning.  

 

A TEENAGER who was photographed climbing on to a southern right whale 20m off Albany's Middleton Beach has been let off with an official warning.

Department for Conservation wildlife officers interviewed the teenager and his family and said he was remorseful for his "foolish'' actions.
“Although he acted foolishly, we believe that there was no malicious intent to harm the whale,” DEC Albany district manager Mike Shephard said.

“He has told us that he regrets his actions and that it was a spur of the moment decision. We believe he now realises that he had put himself in serious danger by approaching the whale.

“There has been a lot of media interest in this case and he was very sorry for what he has put his family through.”

Harassing protected species is an offence under the Wildlife Conservation Act and the maximum penalty is $10,000.

 

Source: PerthNow