Fin whale strands and dies on the coast of Île de Ré

A 10-meter female fin whale stranded and died on the eastern shore of Île de Ré, France. The event occurred on the night of Friday, May 29, 2026, after the animal was spotted near the coast earlier that afternoon. Expert Jean-Roch Mallet stated that an intervention was not possible overnight, leading to the whale's death. This is the third recorded incident of this kind in the region since 1920, with previous cases occurring in 1920 and 2017. The carcass, weighing approximately 12 tons, was removed from the beach using a crane and a semi-trailer truck. Local authorities from the Charente-Maritime prefecture have ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The incident attracted local onlookers as experts examined the mammal in shallow waters.