Whale gets stranded on Canada riverbank. An inflatable saves day, photos show

A whale was recently rescued after it became stranded on a riverbank in Canada, officials said.

The incident took place in the Sydney River, located in Nova Scotia, according to an Aug. 18 news release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The animal — a 12-foot pilot whale — was first spotted in the river’s shallow waters Wednesday, Aug. 6.

“Our fishery officers from the Maritimes Region, Sydney detachment, responded and tried to encourage the free swimming animal downstream into the harbour,” the organization said. “After multiple attempts the team ceased operations to prevent stressing the whale.”

The next day, the officers returned to find the whale had become beached on the shore.

They then sprung into action, this time using a rescue pontoon — an inflatable device — to help ferry the marine mammal into deeper water.

Photos show the officers wading knee-deep into the river as they fastened the bright yellow device to the whale.

Eventually, with the help of a boat, the creature was released in the outer harbour.

“This was a perfect example of the importance of proper training, equipment, and teamwork,” the organization said. “We understand the urge many people have to help; however, the best outcomes result from letting the experts do their job.”

Pilot whales — distinguished by their bulbous heads and prominent curved dorsal fins — are large, highly social marine mammals often seen in pods of 20 to 100 individuals, according to the International Whaling Commission.

The species consists of two types: the short-finned pilot whale, which prefers warmer tropical and temperate waters, and the long-finned pilot whale, which inhabitants cooler waters.

Renowned for their approachable nature, these whales are often spotted on coastal whale-watching excursions.

They’re also often involved in mass strandings. Proposed explanations include navigation errors leading to shallow waters, disruptions in the planet’s geomagnetic field from solar storms and impaired navigation due to sickness.

This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Whale gets stranded on Canada riverbank. An inflatable saves day, photos show."