“It’s a young one, five meters long”: a whale “which weighs around two tonnes” washes up on a French beach

Some residents of Réville (Manche) were able to see a large shape this morning near the coast of Pointe de Saire. Indeed, a whale washed up on the French beach, indicates the Cotentin Cetacean Study Group (GECC) on Facebook, cited by France Blue.

Risk of explosion

After verifying this information, Gérard Mauger, the president of the GECC, indicates that it is the carcass of a “humpback whale”. “I was notified by the police and firefighters shortly before 10 a.m.. It is a young one, five meters long and weighing around two tonnes. We have already had dolphins washed up on our coasts, seals, but to my knowledge never a whale”declares Yves Asseline, mayor of Réville.

“It is floating for the moment, it is drifting gently, it is being followed in real time”underlines Gérard Mauger. However, the GECC calls for vigilance on its Facebook publication and for the good behavior of people near the cetacean carcass.

“If you observe it, please report it to PELAGIS coordinator of the National Stranding Network on 05 46 44 99 10 or to the GECC Mammaïques Marin on 07 66 17 50 48. A person authorized to intervene will go to the scene as quickly as possible to examine the animal. Stay away and do not touch the animal to avoid any risk of disease transmission.we can read.

This warning is not trivial, because there is a real risk of explosion of the animal which is “full of gas”. “Analyses must be carried out” in order to determine the exact causes of the death of the humpback whale.