Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro denies harassing whale

Bolsonaro has denied allegedly harassing a humpback whale while riding a watercraft off the coast of Sao Paulo last year, claiming an investigation into the encounter is politically motivated.

Police in Brazil are investigating former President Jair Bolsonaro over allegations he harassed a humpback whale. Bolsonaro said Wednesday that he had admitted to the Federal Police that he had approached a whale while riding a watercraft off the north coast of Sao Paulo state last June. But he said he had denied bothering the animal. “No one can understand why I am under investigation by the Federal Police regarding whale harassment,” Bolsonaro told CNN affiliate CNN Brasil. Police opened the investigation into the encounter after video footage emerged on social media showed a watercraft – with its engine still running – come within about 15 meters (50 feet) of a humpback whale. Investigators suspect that Bolsonaro was riding the vehicle at the time. But Bolsonaro said he had given the animal he approached more space. “I know that the legislation exists, it has to be complied with, but it doesn’t fit into what happened to me. I admitted I was 20, 30 meters (65 to 100 feet) away from the whale. I did not bother it in any way. I made it very clear to the police,” he said.