Authorities were left confused after a white humpback whale carcass washed ashore at a Victoria beach late last month.

Drone footage shot by Colin Dixon captured the sad sight, showing the dead whale lying on the sand at Mallacoota.

It was not yet known whether the whale was albino, or had turned white due to the elements, and the cause of the whale’s death was unclear.

Whale expert Dr Wally Franklin told the ABC the whale could have been hit by a ship, or killed by a parasite.

Initially, it was feared that the carcass was a well-known male albino humpback called Migaloo, but it has since been confirmed as a sub-adult female.

According to the ABC, Victoria’s Department of Environment planned to leave the whale where it was to decompose naturally. Credit: Colin Dixon via Storyful

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