‘Humpback whale’ spotted in Seine river
Animal is often seen on French coast but rarely travels inland
It is rare for humpback whales to swim up the Seine river. Photo for illustrative purposes only
Alisha Bube/Shutterstock
A whale was spotted in the Seine river this week, with authorities believing the animal to be a humpback whale (baleine à bosse).
The whale has been spotted swimming near the estuary of the river, in the Seine-Maritime department, for a number of days, although it has not swum significantly upstream.
The authorities are not certain on the exact species of the animal, as it was submerged under the water for most of the time, but the prefecture says it appears to be a humpback whale based on the animal’s behaviour.
The departmental prefecture made a press release about the sightings yesterday (October 16) – which you can read below – saying humpback whales are spotted ‘regularly’ on the coast, but are ‘relatively infrequently’ spotted in the river.
The harbour master of Rouen’s port issued an alert about the animal’s presence “inviting people to exercise caution and to inform the harbour master's office of any presence of the marine mammal and its location.”
Animal seemed unharmed
Despite being lost, the animal did not seem injured, and is not showing signs of anxiety.
“According to the images studied, the animal swims normally, even quite quickly, and shows no incapacity,” the Seine-Maritime prefecture said.
Humpback whales are a protected species in France, and the Ministry for Ecological Transition has been asked to help protect the animal until it swims back into its natural waters.
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