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Date Published: 18/04/2024

Uncommon right whale spotted swimming off Almeria beach for first time ever

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Experts are flummoxed as to why the right whale would be seen in these Andalucía waters, so far from its usual habitat

Uncommon right whale spotted swimming off Almeria beach for first time ever

This Tuesday April 16, a right whale, a species that is not native to the Mediterranean Sea, was spotted in the waters off the coast of Almería, the first time a mammal of this type has been sighted in this area.

There are three types of right whales, but it has not yet been possible to confirm which one this would be. In any case, all three live in areas far from the Mediterranean Sea. Right whales belong to the Balenidae family.

There is the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), a species that lives in South American waters. There is also the glacial right whale or Basque whale (Eubalaena glacialis), which was common in the Bay of Biscay until the 18th century. It now lives in the Northwest Atlantic. Finally, there is the North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), almost extinct due to illegal whaling by the Soviet State.

Right whales have a very convex, outward facing lower jaw, which gives them their characteristic appearance. They have no folds under their mouths to expand when they feed, so the shape of their jaws is what allows them to take in large quantities of water with food. This group of animals also lacks a dorsal fin. They are a relatively small type of whale, measuring between 15 and 17 metres, and are slow swimmers.

According to Eva Morón, the coordinator of Equinac, the authorised entity for the stranding of turtles and cetaceans in Almería, “It’s an exceptional sighting.”

Rorqual whales and humpback whales are frequently sighted in the Mediterranean, but seeing a right whale is a very rare occurrence.

The animal seems to be in a good state of health, as it can be seen to be in a feeding area, as evidenced by the presence of numerous seagulls. However, the reason for its sighting so far from its natural habitat is currently unknown.

Equinac reports that the sighting has been reported to the competent authorities, as well as to fishermen in the area. They also stress that “like all cetacean species, the right whale is highly protected, and it is strictly forbidden, by law, to disturb it, chase it, approach it or cause it any kind of discomfort or harm.”

This is not the first unusual sighting in recent months. In January, a grey seal was spotted in the port of Carboneras and a few days later it was found dead on the coast of Pulpí.

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