A 4-meter white beluga calf was pulled from the Seine by rescuers, an effort that drew wide attention as it moved toward Normandy for treatment. The animal ultimately did not survive, despite the team’s best attempts to stabilize its condition before transport.
Veterinarians faced a difficult decision as the whale struggled to breathe during the journey, prompting the grim conclusion that euthanasia was the kindest option to end its suffering.
In a statement shared via social media, the Calvados County Prefect spoke of a rare, large-scale rescue operation for a beluga and conveyed a somber message about the creature’s death. The announcement emphasized that every effort had been made to save the animal, yet its fate could not be altered.
Wildlife experts later confirmed the decline in the beluga’s health while en route to medical facilities. The analysis noted that respiratory function deteriorated considerably and that the animal showed clear signs of distress as it was transported, highlighting that alleviating suffering was the priority of the veterinary team.
The beluga, typically found in Arctic waters, had been spotted in the Seine about 70 kilometers from Paris on Tuesday, August 2. This unusual occurrence underscored the challenges of marine mammal rescue when animals venture far beyond their natural habitats.