An orca was spotted just off the Belgian coast on Sunday morning – said to be a historical first. But tragically, a few hours later the animal washed up on a beach in De Panne and died.
The sighting is believed to be one of the first of an orca on the Belgian coast, according to Kelle Moreau from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (KBIN).
The orca was first seen swimming along the Belgian coast towards France. Near Saint-Idesbald, it began to come dangerously close to the coast. "We tried to discourage it with a boat, but it did not react," said Moreau.
Soon after, the orca washed up on the beach at De Panne. There was no way to save the animal, Moreau said, and it died shortly afterwards. The police have set up a perimeter to keep the hundreds of spectators at a safe distance.
Historical significance and concerns
News about the orca began trickling in around 09:00 on Sunday. Initially, the orca was located on the border of Nieuwpoort and Oostduinkerke, but no photographs were initially available to validate these sightings. "But now it's absolutely certain because I am watching it myself," adds Moreau.
Crowds gather to view the dead orca. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Moreau mentions that in 1850, an orca is believed to have been beached on the Belgian coast. Across the Dutch border, a female orca was also found beached in Zeeland's Cadzand in October 2022.
According to Moreau, the orca spotted today is male, as determined by its fin. The reason for the orca swimming so close to the shore remains unclear.
The orca appeared to be quite thin, suggesting it may not be in good health. "We can only hope the animal does not beach itself and is simply looking for a new group," Moreau concludes. Sadly, the orca found itself beached and stranded at De Panne before passing away on Sunday afternoon.
