Northern Right Whale Strands and Dies Near Île de Ré, France

A female northern right whale (Rorqual boréal) was sighted alive on the evening of 29 May near La Flotte, close to the Abbey of the Châteliers on Île de Ré. The following morning the carcass was found dead at the descent of La Chaloupe in Rivedoux‑Plage. The animal measured about 14.5 m and weighed roughly 15.5 t. It was lifted and placed in a container, then transported to the port of La Pallice for an autopsy by the Observatoire Pélagis on 31 May. Authorities have not yet determined whether the whale died from a collision or a medical condition. This is the first recorded death of a northern right whale in the waters around Île de Ré; the species is uncommon in France and is more frequently seen in the Strait of Gibraltar.