The coast guard keeps an eye on the sea

Coast guard

Autopsy of narwhal found in the river Scheldt

On 27 April 2016, a dead narwhal was found in the river Scheldt, near the sluice of Wintam (Bornem). This is the first record of a narwhal in Belgium. Narwhals usually stay north of the 70° North latitude, and their home range includes arctic waters of Russia, Greenland and Canada. An autopsy was carried out on the stranded narwhal in a joint effort by scientists of our coast guard partner the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), the University of Ghent and the University of Liège. The Institute also keeps a database with sightings and beachings of seals and other sea mammals.

Curious about the results of the autopsy? www.naturalsciences.be 

 

RBINS - Narwhal