Humpback whale spotted in Irish river for the first time

A humpback whale has been spotted in the Shannon Estuary for the first time, prompting authorities to ask ships to reduce speed to prevent potential collisions. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is monitoring the whale's unprecedented presence.

AI Comment from Gemini 2.5 Pro:

This unprecedented sighting in the Shannon Estuary adds to several LEO posts documenting humpback whales venturing into rivers, often with uncertain outcomes. Similar events occurred in Australia's East Alligator River in 2020, where survival was possible despite risks like low salinity and potential stranding, and Canada's St. Lawrence River also in 2020, highlighting dangers from freshwater exposure and boat traffic. Unfortunately, a humpback whale spotted in the River Thames in 2019 ultimately died.> The event in Ireland also aligns with broader trends reported on LEO, such as the increasing numbers of humpbacks seen in Iceland and their notable return and population recovery in the Salish Sea. As mentioned in the main post, these recovering populations may be exploring new areas, potentially driven by shifts in prey distribution linked to climate change, leading to these unusual riverine sightings. Monitoring this young whale's condition and ensuring safe passage, especially reducing ship strike risk, will be crucial.