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On Saturday morning in Paris, a sperm whale appeared on the banks of the Seine river in Paris.。

Whales, which thrive in the salty waters of the oceans, don't tend to end up 100 miles inland, washed up on the banks of fresh water rivers. Yet there it was: a whale in Paris. 。

SEE ALSO:Watch this team rescue an elephant that was swept into the sea。

SEE ALSO:Watch this team rescue an elephant that was swept into the sea。

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The dead whale, although it looks incredibly convincing, is a completely fabricated art installation brought to the romantic city of Paris to stir feelings and raise awareness about sperm whales and humanity's disruption of the ecological system. 。Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter 。By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 。

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。The whale, named Captain Boomer (inspired by the character from the novel 。

Moby Dick
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) was brought to Paris by the Captain Boomer Collective, a Dutch art collective that uses the whale model as a means to spread awareness and educate people around the world about whales and the effects we have on their habitat.。

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Although it may be slightly disturbing to come across a beached "whale" like this on your stroll through a public space, it's certainly attention-grabbing, which is what the collective is aiming for.。

One person who came across Captain Boomer in Paris said that the statue even smelled like a beached whale. Gross, but effective.。

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Captain Boomer has popped up in other places around the world, typically in public spaces where many people could happen upon the installation and learn about sperm whales and their habitat. According to the Captain Boomer Collective's website, the whale is accompanied by scientists who teach people about the whale. 。

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