A bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) has been observed for the first time in Belgian waters since last Friday. Bowhead whales are rarely found far from the edge of the pack ice and are the only large whales to live exclusively in the Arctic. So, this past sighting constitutes a real uniqueness!
Distribution map of bowhead whales. The yellow circle on the Belgian coast is where an individual has been recently spotted (modified from http://uk.whales.org/species-guide/bowhead-whale)
The whale was visible from the shore surfacing every 10 minutes. At a better look it showed having a fishing net entangled at the base of its tail. However, it is not certain that the net is actually hindering the whale.
