For the first time in more than a century, there are two whales in the St. Lawrence river.
A second whale was spotted at around 12:30 pm Wednesday near the Maisonneuve neighborhood.
It has joined another minke whale, which has been swimming in the waters outside Montreal since Sunday.
A team from the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM) is pursuing the whale in an effort to trace its movements, which has ventured nearly 400 kilometers from its natural habitat.
GREMM president Robert Michaud told CTV News the last time there were two whales in Montreal’s waters was 121 years ago in 1901.
The group also said it may have already spotted the second whale near Trois-Rivieres on May 9.
Little is known about the first whale’s new accomplice — the GREMM is expected to provide more details soon as it gathers more information.
Anyone who sees the whale is asked to call the Marine Mammal Emergencies number at 1 (877) 722-5346.
According to the group’s Wednesday update, the first whale is in good health and is swimming close to the city’s shoreline.
Researchers will be keeping a close eye on the whales’ whereabouts following the death of the city’s last aquatic visitor in 2020.
— This is a developing story which will be updated.