For days, French authorities have been tracking a beluga whale that has strayed into the Seine, far from its Arctic habitat. They fear that the mammal could starve if left in the river. The whale is said to be trapped in a lock about 70 kilometers from Paris. The marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd France also rushed to the rescue of the marine mammal with drones and a boat.
Drone footage from the French fire service on Thursday shows the whale swimming through the bright green waters of the river between Paris and the Normandy city of Rouen, many tens of kilometers inland from the sea. On Friday, authorities said the whale was believed to have roamed a 40-kilometer stretch of river between two locks northwest of Paris.
Doomed to die if he stays in the Seine
According to animal welfare organization Sea Shepherd France, the whale likely needs food and assistance to return to its natural marine habitat. It is unlikely to survive long in fresh water, as the underwater noise of ships and boats in the river can confuse it. “He is doomed to die if he stays in the Seine,” Lamya Essemlali, head of the French NGO, told TF1.
The mom, first spotted in the river earlier this week, looked alarmingly thin and swam away from boats trying to steer him toward the English Channel estuary.
Recently a killer whale died of starvation
Conservationists hoped to save the whale the fate of another whale that got lost in the French River in May: an orca starved to death after weeks of odyssey in the Seine. In July, a fin whale is said to have been sighted in the mouth of the river at Le Havre.
Belugas are easily identified by their pale skin and bulbous forehead. They are also known for their sociability and life, usually hunting and migrating in groups. Belugas are considered an endangered species and are common in shallow Arctic coastal waters. Because belugas emit a variety of clicking, whistling, squeaking, chirping and howling sounds underwater, they are sometimes referred to as “canaries of the sea.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
