Efforts to feed lost Beluga whale continue as France watches

FRENCH environmentalists are working around the clock to try to feed a dangerously thin Beluga whale that has strayed into the Seine River and has been refusing food given to him, with the eyes of the country watching.

So far, the efforts to aid the wayward beluga have proved unsuccessful.

Marine conservation group

Sea Shepherd France tweeted yesterday that “our teams took turns with the Beluga all night long. It always ignores the fish offered to him”.

The lost Beluga was first seen in the French river, far from its Arctic habitat, earlier in the week.

Drone footage subsequently shot by French fire services showed the whale gently meandering in a stretch of the river’s light green waters, between Paris and the Normandy city of Rouen, many dozens of miles inland from the sea.

Conservationists have tried since Friday to feed a catch of herring to the ethereal white mammal as concern grows for its wellbeing.

Calling it “a race against the clock”, Sea Shepherd fears the whale is slowly starving in the waterway and could

die.

Authorities in the l’Eure region said in a Friday night statement that the wild animal has a “fleeing behaviour vis-a-vis the boats” and has not responded to attempts to guide it to safer waters. The people trying to help the whale are being as unobtrusive as possible to “avoid stress that could aggravate his state of health”, according to the statement. The organisation said it continues to “take stock of the situation” and efforts to aid the creature continue, saying: “We remain hopeful that he agrees to feed.”