The banks of the River Thames were flooded with onlookers eager to catch a glimpse of a lost Beluga whale bobbing in and out of the water on Tuesday. Beluga whales are usually found in the icy-cold waters of the Arctic Ocean near Greenland, and it is highly unusual to find them anywhere near the Thames. Ecologist, Dave Andrews, first spotted the whale in the water and grew seriously concerned for its safety when it lost energy.
Can’t believe I’m writing this, no joke – BELUGA in the Thames off Coalhouse Fort @RareBirdAlertUK pic.twitter.com/6VtrJ1PVc6
— Dave Andrews (@iPterodroma) September 25, 2018
“Can’t believe I’m writing this, no joke – BELUGA in the Thames off Coalhouse Fort,” he wrote in a tweet.
Andrews said the whale had been feeding around the barges across the Thames near Gravesend in Kent for around an hour and had not moved more than 200 metres.
The mammal appeared to be ‘thrashing about’near Tilbury Dock, which is one of London’s major ports.
Concern for the whale’s safety grew as huge freight ships sailed over the mammal in quick succession. Marine rescuers in the area have warned boats and locals to keep away from the whale until it is safely back in chartered waters.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue, an organisation dedicated to the rescue and well-being of all marine animals in distress around the UK tweeted that they are monitoring the situation closely.
#Belugawhale in the Thames @ #Gravesend pic.twitter.com/ndl299Kjxs
— daniel maclaren (@danmacl) September 26, 2018
Beluga Whale – Gravesend (Kent) 25/9/18 #belugawhale #gravesend #cetacean #whitewhale #whale #mammalmega #riverthames @WHALES_org @ORCA_web @BDMLROrcaAware @ pic.twitter.com/hFHstHmSnP
— Simon 😊 (@SimonWest26) September 26, 2018
This is incredible 😮 #RiverThames #BelugaWhale #London #RiverThamesBelugaWhale #Kent #Gravesend Beluga whale spotted again in River Thames https://t.co/9oLOsjMeMs
— ThamesRIBExperience (@ThamesRIBExp) September 26, 2018
Waking up today I never imagined that the day would end by my seeing the incredible record of a #beluga in the #riverthames (see pic). Even on trips to the icy waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence or Spitsbergen, their sightings are not guaranteed! Well done the finder! #belugawhale pic.twitter.com/gaAg6tj09h
— David Hatton (@davidhhatton) September 25, 2018
#BELUGA #belugawhale found by @iPterodroma Putting in a good performance in the River Thames just East of Milton. Now the 4th species of arctic marine mammal in British Isles this year; hard to avoid the obvious conclusion that arctic warming is having an effect on these species. pic.twitter.com/6Hq62RCSI4
— Simon Mitchell (@perilsofbirding) September 25, 2018
