From The BBC

Whale found deep in Amazon jungle

The whale ran aground earlier this week but after being freed with the help of vets and biologists it disappeared shortly afterwards.

It is the second time this week in Brazil that a lost animal has been spotted in an unexpected location.

The minke whale ran aground on a sandbar deep inside the Amazon.

Local people had been splashing water on the whale's back and fin while it was exposed to the hot Amazon sun.

The whale is said to weigh about 12 tons.

Reports of a mysterious animal in the area had been causing alarm among locals near to the Tapajos river, a tributary of the Amazon.

Experts say the animal could have been in the area for a couple of months.

After the whale was freed, helicopters and boats were involved in a search of the area but nothing was found.

A biologist said it was thought the animal became separated from its group and swam upstream, until it ran aground near Santarem in Para state.

While it is not unprecedented, it is unusual for whales to venture so far into fresh water.

Personally I'd be more impressed had it been swinging through the canopy.

Post Last Updated:18.11.2007 at 16.13

How weird - it's a wonder it survived!

We used to see (small) sharks and (big) sawfish sometimes in the river where I grew up in north-west Queensland. They would have been probably 200km from the sea, maybe more as the rivers curve back and forth so much. I wouldn't have believed they could live in muddy fresh water as opposed to the sea, but looks like they can! Its nice the locals did all they could to save the poor thing, imagine how freaked out it must be.

Post by Allan


From The BBC

[quote]
It is the second time this week in Brazil that a lost animal has been spotted in an unexpected location.

I wonder where the first animal was spotted?

I believe a crocodile ended up on the beach, I'd have to look up the story :D