Whales filmed having whale of a time during lockdown

[Judi Lynn]

John Leicester, Associated Press Updated 7:41 am CDT, Thursday, April 9, 2020



Photo: Alan Solomon, TNSA fin whale off the Gaspe Peninsula. (File photo)

LE PECQ, France (AP) — With humans away, the whales will play.

In another sign that wild animals are roaming more freely while locked-down people are sheltering indoors from the coronavirus, a maritime patrol has filmed remarkable images of whales powering through Mediterranean waters off the coast of southern France.

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The graceful pair of fin whales was filmed Tuesday in waters off the Calanques national park, a protected reserve of outstanding natural beauty next to the usually bustling but now locked-down Mediterranean port city of Marseille.

Didier Reault, who heads the park board, says it is “very, very rare” for fin whales to be spotted and filmed at such close quarters in the reserve’s waters. The whales usually stay further out in deeper Mediterranean waters but seem to have been drawn in by the lockdown-driven freeze on maritime traffic, water sports, pleasure fishing and pleasure craft, Reault said.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/Whales-filmed-having-whale-of-a-time-during-15189092.php

[Mickju]

1. How wonderful!

I hope they will still be around after we go extinct, but I wouldn't count on it.