-
Controversial new French motorway: Decision delayed on work suspension
The A69 between Toulouse and Castres has long been the subject of several court cases and protests
-
Les Cévennes: Escape the daily hustle and bustle with the beauty of untouched French mountains
Explore the timeless allure and hidden gems of the secluded Cévennes mountains
-
Bordeaux's pine tree experiment to tackle drought
A decade-long study aims to cultivate drought-resistant maritime pines in Europe's largest forest, adapting to a drier future
Firefighters rescue ray stranded on French beach
It is highly unusual for a ray to beach itself
Firefighters rescued a 150kg mobula ray from a beach in the south of France and returned it safely to deeper waters.
A walker found the ray - which was 2.2m long, with a span of 3.4m - near a first aid station on plage de Marseillan, Hérault, on Wednesday, December 23.
PHOTOS - L'incroyable sauvetage d'une raie géante échouée sur une plage de Marseillan
— France Bleu Hérault (@bleuherault) December 23, 2020
@SDIS34 https://t.co/x9nYuWNFMN
Firefighters used a jet ski to help the animal back out to deeper water, and released it about 2km away from land.
A spokesperson for the emergency services described the incident as: "An unforgettable moment for our divers and one of pure happiness. This kind of moment which gives meaning to life and our environment is good in this difficult period."
It is unusual for this particular species of ray - noted for its dramatic ability to leap out of the water - to strand itself on beaches.