Free Wally

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The people named him Wally - this eight-meter-long and about two-year-old gray whale is actually at home in the Pacific, but has now been spotted off the coast of southern France in the Mediterranean.

Researchers suspect that climate change could be the cause of his confused sense of direction.

Eric Hansen, French Agency for Biodiversity: "The Northwest Passage, which connects the Pacific with the Atlantic, was previously only used in the summer because of the melting of the ice. Global warming is accelerating the melting of the ice, so this sea route is now passable much earlier in the year. We believe that this young whale made a navigational mistake. Instead of swimming down the Pacific coast, it has taken the Atlantic coast and lost time. Now it is returning to Gibraltar, desperately trying to return to the Pacific. "

Scientists and activists watch Wally on his way through the Mediterranean Sea.

He seems to be acting normally for the most part.

But you are concerned about its weight.

Celine Tardy, Criob Research Laboratory: "The Italian colleagues estimate that it has less than 37 percent of the body mass of its conspecifics at the same age. In addition, it swims very close to the coast, we have to watch this animal closely."

Wally must be very hungry.

Because in the Mediterranean he does not find any of the invertebrates that make up his usual food in the Pacific.

He covers 80 to 90 kilometers a day, next he has to go through the busy Gibraltar waterway.

And then another ten thousand kilometers are waiting for the weakened animal to go home.