Fears growing for 'hopelessly off-course' Beluga whale in the River Thames

Sophie Williams2 October 2018

Fears are growing for the “hopelessly off-course” Beluga whale which is said to have set up home in the River Thames.

The animal has entered its seventh day in the river and shows no signs of moving any time soon.

Whale experts have warned that should the animal manage to make its way from the Thames, it could be hit by a passing ship as it makes its way back to the Arctic.

Beluga whales are usually found thousands of miles north in Greenland, Svalbard or the Barents sea.

The whale has now been in the Thames for seven days (British Divers Marine Life Rescue )
British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Danny Groves from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation society told the Standard: “At the moment Benny or Bella seems to be fine and feeding but we are hoping that he or she starts to move back out towards the North Sea and more natural waters in the high Arctic soon.

“This whale is hopelessly off-course and the longer he or she hangs around the more worried we become for the whale’s wellbeing. Whilst boats have been asked to keep their distance from the beluga in the Thames the open water will be a different matter.

Beluga Whale in the Thames- In pictures

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“When a whale or dolphin is hit by a ship or other vessel in the water they are likely to die or suffer horrific injury."

The animal, named Benny, remains in Gravesend where it has been feeding for the past week.

There are raising concerns over the animal's safety (British Divers Marine Life Rescue )
British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Martin Garside from the Port of London authority told the Standard: “It was sighted yesterday but no confirmed sightings today yet although we usually tend to see it later in the day during high tide. That’s been its pattern for the past week.

“It is demonstrating feeding behaviour and diving. It doesn’t look obviously sick or distressed but we’re in unchartered territory.”

It has been compared to the Humpback whale which was spotted three years running in the Hudson River in New York.

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