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Reuters
PARIS — French authorities are weighing whether to release the Seine beluga whales back into the sea, but they may also keep them in seawater tanks for longer periods to regain their health, government officials say. said on Monday.
A beluga whale, normally found in Arctic or subarctic waters, strayed into the Seine last week and swam almost halfway across Paris. Currently trapped in a ship's lock, received vitamins and antibiotics over the weekend. We previously ruled this out because it seemed like it would, but now veterinarians and wildlife groups are advising that it may be to the benefit of beluga whales to try it." 21}
Alternatively, she added that keeping it in a saltwater tank for a while could restore more health.
"Our goal is to save this animal, so we have to study how to do it and avoid mistakes. It will be difficult, but the goal is to reach the ocean," she added. .
Drone footage showed the white whale slowly circling up into the air at a lock just below the water's surface.
"Common sense suggests that they would let the animal go, but it seems to be getting weaker and weaker," said nearby Marie-France Vigoule, 75.
It was unclear why the whales were so far removed from their natural habitat.
In late May, a seriously ill killer whale died of natural causes after swimming tens of miles up the Seine and unsuccessfully attempting to return her to the sea.
In September 2018, beluga whales were spotted in the River Thames near Gravesend for several days. This was the most southern sighting of beluga whales on the English coast at the time. (Reporting by Clotaire Achi; Writing by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
