A humpback whale named Rio is being monitored in the Sacramento River Delta after traveling roughly 60 miles inland from San Francisco Bay. Pleasanton is about 29 miles north of Saratoga. Rio was first seen in the bay Tuesday, then was observed near Rio Vista before moving into the Sacramento River.
The United States Coast Guard located Rio Wednesday. A witness told ABC10 that the whale came to the surface near the Rio Vista Bridge, roughly a block from Rio Vista City Hall.
The Marine Mammal Center said researchers know Rio and have documented the whale 15 times in waters between California and Mexico over the past 24 years. The Cascadia Research Collective supplied images that helped verify Rio’s identity. Experts said the whale may have entered the Delta because of illness, an injury or difficulty navigating.
Kathi George, of the Marine Mammal Center, said the organization is continuing to monitor Rio and asked people not to disrupt the whale’s route in the Delta. No additional information about Rio’s condition was provided.
Source: yahoo.com.