A beluga whale has been spotted in a river west of Norway's capital Oslo, far from its usual habitat in Arctic seas, media reported Friday.Belugas traditionally live much further north, near Greenland or in the waters of the Russian or Norwegian Arctic.
The animals move for three reasons: to feed, to breed and to escape predators, Marie-Anne Blanchet, a researcher with the Norwegian Polar Institute, told AFP.
The white whale was spotted early Friday in a section of the Drammen River near the town of Hokksund some 60 kilometres (38 miles) from Oslo, public broadcaster NRK reported.
"Its presence in the waters of southern Scandinavia is not common, but it is an animal that can swim in freshwater," explained Blanchet.
She said the whale appeared to be healthy and seemed to be swimming normally.
"However, we do not know why it is here," she added.
Some occasionally venture further south into Atlantic waters but very rarely into waters near the Norwegian capital.
"In theory, it would be able to find its way back to its natural habitat, but contact with humans is not ideal. The only thing to do is to leave it alone," she said.
The beluga is a large cetacean that can grow up to five metres long (16.5 feet) and is often called a white whale.
