Video: Beluga whale spotted off Dutch coast for first time in 60 years
For the first time in decades, a beluga whale was sighted off the Dutch coast this weekend, attracting attention from local authorities and marine experts, NH reports. The white whale was first observed on Saturday near Callantsoog and Julianadorp.
SOS Dolfijn briefly entered the water to assess the animal from a distance using a zoom camera, and the organization reported later on Monday that the whale is in good condition, displaying normal behavior and showing no signs of emaciation. A scar was visible on its flank, but it was not considered a cause for concern.
The beluga was previously reported in Dutch waters in 1984 off the coast of Zeeland. Earlier claims that the last sighting was in 1966 were corrected by SOS Dolfijn; the 1966 beluga, widely observed and nicknamed Moby Dick, swam up the Rhine to Bonn before returning to the open sea.
Belugas, also called white whales, have robust bodies, small rounded heads, and short snouts. They can grow up to seven meters long, weigh up to 2,000 kilograms, and are adapted to the extreme cold of Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. Normally, they travel in groups of two to fifteen, but this individual appeared to be alone.
Jeroen Hoekendijk of SOS Dolfijn noted that while the whale looks healthy, its presence in the relatively warmer North Sea is unusual, akin to seeing a polar bear on a beach. Authorities decided to let the whale continue swimming freely, monitoring it from a distance. The beluga was last observed northwest of Den Helder, reportedly indicating it may be making its way back toward the Arctic.
