Activists locate ‘extremely thin’ Beluga whale in Seine

Paris, Aug 5 (EFE).- Environmental activists on Friday located a severely underweight beluga whale that swam up the River Seine.

The marine mammal, a protected species that lives in large groups and is usually found in Arctic waters and off Quebec in Canada, swam up from the English Channel, reaching a lock about 70km from Paris on Thursday evening, police said.

In a statement on Friday, Sea Shepherd France said that its activists were tracking the isolated whale, which was “extremely thin”.

“The absolute urgency is to try to feed him, which we will do today. The success of the operation will depend on his reaction,” the NGO said.

A boater alerted local authorities in l’Eure, Normandy, to the presence of an “unusual marine animal” on Tuesday, French media reported.

Authorities and environmentalists have urged people not to approach the whale and to keep their distance.

“Help us to help him by respecting these instructions, the interest of the animal prevails over curiosity. Thank you on his behalf,” Sea Shepherd France said. EFE

ks/mp