Whales actually have no business in rivers. Nevertheless, the marine mammals get lost again and again. The fact that a beluga whale has now been sighted in the Seine surprises not only the French authorities. They are now considering how best to help the animal.
A beluga whale, normally resident in arctic waters, has been spotted in the Seine River in France. Footage suggested it was one of the gregarious marine mammals, which is believed to have been separated from its group, authorities in the Normandy department of Eure reported on Wednesday evening.
Exactly where the animal was sighted and how big it is was not disclosed. It is now being investigated how to ensure its survival, said the administration of Eure.
Beluga whales, also known as white whales because of the color of their skin, usually live off the coasts of Russia, Alaska and Canada. Although they leave the Arctic in search of food in autumn, they rarely venture that far south. However, individual belugas sometimes swim further south than usual, according to Eure authorities.
Adult animals can grow up to four meters in length and survive in fresh water for a while. The authorities said that it is currently being checked how healthy the whale is in the Seine. After that, a decision will be made on measures to save him. In order not to stress the animal, the authorities asked all residents to keep their distance.
In May, a killer whale died in the Seine between the port city of Le Havre and Rouen. The animal was stranded in the river that also flows through Paris on its way to the English Channel. All attempts to direct it back to the sea were in vain. The mammal, also known as the orca, had been wandering around in the river for weeks. In London, a minke whale had strayed into the Thames and got stuck in a lock - 90 kilometers from the river's mouth. He could be freed.
