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Concerns mount over health of beluga whale in Seine

August 5, 2022

The beluga whale that swam up the river that runs through Paris appeared underweight. The protected species is normally found in Arctic waters not near major European capitals.

https://p.dw.com/p/4F9yM
White Whales (Beluga Whales) are observed during the expedition of the Turkish Scientific Research team near Svalbard Islands, in the Arctic Ocean in Norway on July 21, 2022.
Beluga whales' natural habitat is in far colder saltwater, mainly the Arctic OceanImage: Ozge Elif Kizil/AA/picture alliance

French officials fear for the health of a beluga whale that found itself far from its natural habitat in cold Arctic waters and instead was swimming in the Seine river.

The beluga whale is currently in the water between the Poses dam and Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, 70 kilometers (44 miles) northwest of Paris. On Thursday, authorities said the whale barely moved.

It was first spotted earlier in the week and comes on the heels of a killer whale or orca spotted in the Seine two months ago. It died not long thereafter.

What is the condition of the whale?

French maritime rescue services, firefighters, and biodiversity officials mobilized to keep watch on the whale throughout the day to monitor its health and fitness, the local prefecture said, adding it seemed to have "skin changes and to be underweight."

A firefighter looks at the screen as drone flying above Seine river monitors Beluga whale's movements at Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, France
Drones are being used to monitor the movements of a beluga whale that has found its way into the SeineImage: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL/REUTERS

The deputy head of France's Marine Mammal Research Group Gerard Mauger said the beluga had spent "very little time on the surface," and its lung capacity seemed to be in "good" shape. Mauger said rescuers were having difficulty trying to bring the whale to the mouth of the river.

While officials have not specified how big the beluga in the Seine is, an adult can be up to 4 meters (13 feet) in length. Normally they swim in Arctic waters, but do swim south in autumn and can survive in fresh water for shorter periods.

What is being done to assist the whale?

Lamya Essemlali, head of marine conservation at the French branch of the animal protection nonprofit Sea Shepherd, said her team was prepared to arrive with drones to help rescuers keep track of the beluga's movements.

Essemlali told AFP, "The environment is not very welcoming for the beluga, the Seine is very polluted and cetaceans are extremely sensitive to noise." The Seine is "very noisy," she added.

In May of this year, an orca died in the Seine between Le Havre and Rouen amid efforts to rescue it. 

Despite efforts to help guide it out from the Seine, it never found its way back to the ocean.

ar/msh (AFP, Reuters)