Earlier this week, a porpoise was spotted in the River Scheldt near the Nieuw Zuid district of the northern port city of Antwerp. Animal rescue centres are asking the public at large to report any sightings of the porpoise online. ‘This will allow us to monitor whether the animal needs help.’
The porpoise was spotted in the River Scheldt on Monday. A member of the public reported the sighting via the website waarnemingen.be . Via their social media outlets animal rescue centres are now asking the public to do the same, if they spot the porpoise.
‘This is a very important website for mapping the route the animal is following. This allows researchers to monitor whether the porpoise is still healthy and where it is swimming,’ explains animal welfare worker Dafne Van Mieghem.
Even in the Kempen District
In October 2025, another porpoise appeared elsewhere in Antwerp Province, this time in the Albert Canal at Herentals. Never before had this small type of whale been spotted so far inland. The porpoise was found dead on the bank.
‘We are seeing porpoises more and more often in our region,’ says Van Mieghem. ‘To investigate the cause of this, it is important that we track where they are migrating and whether they are returning. If the animals get into distress, we can care for them and help them.’
The porpoise is the smallest cetacean, an order of marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises, in Europe. It resembles a dolphin but has a blunter snout.