By John Ensor • Published: 20 Apr 2024 • 15:54
Stock image of a Southern Right whale. Credit: Foto 4440/Shutterstock.com
The waters off Almeria have played host to an ‘exceptional’ sighting, as reported by Equinac, a local network that usually attends to sea creatures that have become stranded.
A southern right whale, a species typically found in the southern hemisphere’s oceans, has been spotted, an occurrence which has been described as highly unusual for the Mediterranean.
This cetacean, native to the South Pacific, South Atlantic, and South Indian oceans, is more commonly seen near the coasts of Argentina, Australia, Chile, and Uruguay.
Measuring up to 20 metres in length for females and weighing around 20 tons, their presence in Almeria is almost unprecedented.
The sighting was captured on video and given to Equinac by the Mojacar Diving Centre, taken by an eyewitness named Tammy.
This remarkable event highlights a species that has faced severe threats, with populations declining by up to 90 per cent since the 19th century due to overhunting. Currently, only about 8,000 of these whales are left in the world’s oceans, making this encounter in Almeria as particularly special.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Share this story
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Originally from Doncaster, Yorkshire, John now lives in Galicia, Northern Spain with his wife Nina. He is passionate about news, music, cycling and animals.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Website
Comment for robots Please empty this comment field to prove you're human.
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish.