Photo Credit: Brian J. Skerry, courtesy of National Geographic
By: Sarah Sharkey
A beluga whale that has become the highlight of local charm in Nova Scotia is actually the same
whale that was rescued last year in the Nepisiquit River in northern New Brunswick. The rescue
was a one of a kind attempt, but the whale seems to be healthier one year later.
The male was first rescued after it had gotten trapped in the Nepisiquit River. He swam
upstream, but when the water levels dropped he could not escape. So the rescue crew had to
haul him ashore and then airlift him to the coast. It was suspected that the whale was originally
a member of the community that lives in the St. Lawrence Estuary, but had struck out on his
own. The rescue team decided to take him and release him in Quebec in order to rejoin the pod.
When the news hit that the whale was currently in Nova Scotia, the rescue team was excited to
find out that he was still doing well. The researchers are happy that the animal decided to stay
close to the Quebec pod because that population is declining. Any additional animal could really
help the population recover.
Another interesting development is that the rescued whale is now traveling with a buddy.
Hopefully, he is enjoying his new home!
Read more from the source.