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PHOTO: pixabay
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A gray whale that has strayed far from the Pacific Ocean has been observed these days for the first time off the French coast of the Mediterranean, the National Network for Shallow Marine Mammals reported today, quoted by AFP.
It is a small kitten about fifteen months old, 8 meters long, observed in early March in Morocco, and two weeks ago in Italy – in Naples, Rome and Genoa.
Most likely, it has deviated to the Mediterranean Sea and is trying to get out of it to return to its natural habitat in the North Pacific.
In 2010, such a specimen has already been observed twice in the Mediterranean, but in Israel and Spain, off the coast of France, this is the first time, said Adrien Gannier, a veterinarian and member of the conservation network, who personally observed the kitten these days. in the waters near Borm-les-Mimosa in southeastern France.
The presence of this species of whale in such waters is quite unusual, as its population lives for the most part between Baja California in winter and Alaska in summer.
It is possible that the kitten was born in California and got lost in the Beaufort Sea during the first feeding season, and instead of going back to the Pacific Ocean, it crossed the Atlantic Ocean and the pelvis was trapped in the Mediterranean, explained Adrien Gannie. .
Borm-le-Mimosa’s port authorities on Friday managed to get him back to the high seas. Adrienne Gagnier expressed hope that it would be able to get out of the Mediterranean Sea near Gibraltar and then head to the Atlantic Ocean.
According to him, the marine mammal looks in pretty good health, but has lost weight because its diet is not suitable in the Mediterranean. These whales feed on invertebrates living in muddy sands, which is rare in the area.
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