French Authorities are Rescuing a Beluga Whale Who Entered the River Seine in Route to Paris

A beluga whale entered France's River Seine which leads southward to the capital city of Paris. The rare incident, which started last week, has forced French authorities in an ongoing rescue effort to save the white whale. The marine animal is not accustomed to freshwater, which deviates from its natural habitat in the Arctic waters. With this, authorities are in a race against time to save its life.

Local sources indicate the whale has been extremely skinny when it entered the French river since it was first spotted on Tuesday, August 2. Native to the freezing waters of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, experts believe the beluga whale has little time to survive if local officials fail to bring it out of the river and into its original home. However, the challenge remains on how it will be lured out of the French waters.

In recent years, related whale strandings have been reported in multiple countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Recent research suggests that the melting of ice due to climate change and global warming in the northern polar region have driven out not only whales but also other Arctic animals, including polar bears.

River Seine Beluga Whale

(Photo : Photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images)

France is reportedly facing a crisis in the form of a stranded beluga whale as of Monday, August 8, as emergency personnel, firefighters, law enforcement, military, and the coast guard are involved in a massive rescue operation to save the animal.

The operation aims to bring back the white whale into its natural saltwater habitat. From there, officials reportedly said airlifting it back to its home is a necessity since the mammal's chances of survival is still slim even it makes out of the River Seine.

Emmanuel Pasco-Viel, operations coordinator of Normandy's I'Eure prefecture and responsible for monitoring the situation, told NBC News the situation is puzzling; prompting the French government to use even a helicopter or drones to monitor the whale.

Also Read: Lone Beluga Whale Discovered More than a Thousand Miles Away From Home in Seattle

Stationary But Still Alive

In its latest developments, the Beluga whale as of Monday afternoon (local time) has refused to be fed and is now clinging on its life.

Furthermore, the malnourished beluga whale is no longer progressing and remains stationary but is still alive, according to the Sea Shepherd, an environmental group, as cited by France's news outlet The Local.

Since Friday, August 5, the whale remains in a deadlock in the river approximately 70 kilometers north of the French capital.

Strange Phenomenon

Related incidents have occurred not only in France but also in Norway and the United States in recent months and years.

In October 2021, a beluga whale was seen swimming off the coast of Seattle in Washington, United States, which is thousand miles away from its Arctic home.

In May 2021, an orca or killer whale died in the River Seine after similar attempts failed to bring it back to the ocean.

In April 2019, another friendly and sociable white whale was trapped and freed fishing harness in the icy waters of Norway, according to the Independent.

Related Article: Beluga Cam: Livestream of 55,000 Beluga Whales Migrating from Arctic Waters into Canada Made Possible