What caused this cross marking on a WA humpback?

Whales are often left with scars on their thick skin, but an unusual mark on a humpback whale at Cheyne Beach has left experts scratching their heads.

Raeline Smith from RJS Photographs took this shot of a humpback at Cheyne Beach.

The whale has a number of barnacles and scars, but a conscicuous cross mark on its back left the photogorapher puzzled.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Parks and Wildlife said its whale experts were unable to verify what had caused the markings but it was possibly a rope mark or from ”something in the wild”.