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Bbeluga whale dies during rescue mission in France
A beluga whale which was stranded in the River Seine in France has died during a rescue operation, the BBC reported.
The 800kg whale became trapped in the river, 100 km (62 miles) inland and its health was beginning to deteriorate as it struggled to find food.
Eighty helpers, including divers, police and a dozen vets worked through the night to remove the animal from the river and onto a refrigerated truck for transfer back to the coast.
The whale developed breathing difficulties during the journey and experts then made the difficult decision to euthanise it.
Taking the animal out of the water was out of the question as it was too risky, Lamya Essemlali, the head of environmental group Sea Shepherd France, was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.
Not every day you get a polar bear swimming next to a beluga whale! pic.twitter.com/eBBRkdTz5o
— Brett Hartl (@brett_hartl) August 2, 2022
"The challenge now will be to help feed it, and try to accompany it towards the ocean," she said.
France mulls rescue plan for beluga whale stranded in River Seine
The mammal suited to cold Arctic waters, was seen near a lock at Vernon, about 70km (43 miles) north-west of Paris.
The beluga whale strayed his way so far south from its natural habitat to River Seine, and this led to his end.
levantnews-BBC
