White dolphin is taken out of the water Seine and transferred to basin | Abroad

The white dolphin, or beluga, was first spotted last Tuesday in the Seine about 70 kilometers from Paris. A remarkable place for beluga whales, which are mainly found in arctic and sub-arctic seas. The animal, meanwhile, is malnourished and trapped between two locks, reducing the white dolphin’s chances of survival.

Anesthetic not an option

The French department of Sea Sheperd clarifies in a message why getting the animal back home is not so easy. Anesthetizing the beluga just like that and taking it to the sea is not possible, they write. Dolphins breathe very consciously. Should the animal be sedated, it will stop breathing and die.

Also just opening the floodgates and ‘letting it go to the sea’ is apparently not as simple as it seems. “It’s more than 150 kilometers to the estuary and it would have to go through a lock again.” The animal is also weakened and tends to swim further towards Paris instead of towards the sea. ‘Drifting’ the dolphin towards the sea with boats was considered, but the distance is too great and therefore Sea Shepherd is afraid that they will lose the animal.

Risk analysis

Euthanasia is also not an issue yet, it sounds. The French contacted colleagues in Canada who have more experience with belugas and they also agree that euthanasia would be too early.

After much discussion, Sea Shepherd has decided to remove the animal from the waters of the Seine and place it in a basin of salt water. The dolphin will be monitored there and receive the necessary care. Later it will be released into the sea. “Choices have been made,” it sounds. The risks were analyzed and the interests of the animal were always taken into account.

The French also hope to learn from the story of the beluga. In May, an orca was also in trouble in the Seine. Then all actions to save the animal failed, and it eventually died of starvation. That shouldn’t happen again, it sounds.

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