The beluga whale saved from Bathurst is not found

Photo courtesy GREMM

QMI agency

Monday, 10 July 2017 10:11

UPDATE
Monday, 10 July 2017 10:23

Look at this article

Scientists have lost track of the beluga whale which was the object of a rescue unusual, the last month, Bathurst, New Brunswick.

• READ ALSO: The beluga of Bathurst is not out of the woods yet

Since the 4th of July, the researchers have not been receiving transmissions from the tag satellite that has been placed on the right flank of the young marine mammal.

“Hoping for a temporary problem, we waited two additional days before having to resolve to the following observation : we have lost contact with the beluga whale”, could we read in a press release issued by the Group for research and education on marine mammals (GREMM).

Three hypotheses may explain this situation. It could be, first, that the tag placed on the animal to be broken. This last could also be detached from the beluga whale who wore it and have sunk to the bottom of the river. Finally, the possibility that we dread the most: the young white whale could be dead

The scientific director of GREMM), Robert Michaud, believes that “nothing is played for the moment.”

“If the animal is still alive, but his tag has fallen, it has left a scar in its dorsal crest, which should allow us to easily recognize it. Our season with beluga whales begins and we will keep the eyes open,” he said.

The presence of beluga whales had been reported in the river Nepisiguit, near Bathurst, New Brunswick, last June 2. The whale was found stuck in the river, doomed to a certain death.

On 15 June, experts have made its relocation, transporting by plane to Rivière-du-Loup, and then by truck to Cacouna, where he had been placed in the water.

Once released into the river St. Lawrence, there had been reservations about the future of the young beast, while some aspects of his state of health was giving rise to concern.

But the beluga lost had surprised everyone by browsing through approximately 570 kilometres to the North Shore.