An operation was underway in Martinique to save a stranded humpback whale calf that appeared to have lost its mother.
On Tuesday, the creature was at Schœlcher where two boats were trying to coax it back out to sea.
On Sunday, people spotted the calf in Case-Pilote.
Local reports indicate that the animal is between four and six metres long and weighs about one tonne.
Marine experts have said the calf should be between one and three months old.
According to the experts, the mother is supposed to feed the stranded creature if it is to survive.
But they believe that the mother has either died or encountered a problem that resulted in separation from the calf.
As a result, two boats were trying to send the calf back out to sea.
According to TheWhaleTrail.org, a calf will spend a year nursing on the mother’s rich milk, which is between 45-60% fat.
The gestation period of a humpback whale is around 11 months, and female humpback whales will give birth every 2-3 years.
And PacificWhale.Org notes that mother-calf pairs have the strongest and more lasting bond within humpback whales.
The organisation said the calf would stay with its mother for about a year until it is weaned.
