'Thames dolphin' monitored by animal welfare experts after it is spotted for second time in a week

Chloe Chaplain6 November 2017

Animal welfare experts are monitoring the "Thames dolphin" after it was spotted in the river for the second time in a week.

There has been speculation as to whether the animal is a common dolphin or a porpoise.

It was seen last week after it swam 40 miles up the Thames and was seen near Putney Bridge, Kew and Richmond.

The RSPCA said it was liaising with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which is monitoring the aquatic mammal.

Another sighting of it was reported on Sunday by the Met’s Marine Policing Unit, who tweeted: “Taking care not to get too close, Marine 2 got a tantalising glimpse of the Thames #Dolphin at Wandsworth this morning.”

Dolphin: The animal was spotted on Sunday by police officers monitoring the Thames
@MPSonthewater

Officers shared a video of the animal's fin poking out of the water as it surfaced.

Later, they posted a picture of it swimming up close to the boat, writing: “Despite our best efforts to keep clear it would seem #Dolphins are as interested in us as we are of them. Popped up next to us (engines off).”

The animal was previously spotted from river banks in Kew, Richmond and Putney.
@LexieCarducci

According to marine officers, they regularly see porpoises, seals and dolphins up and down the Thames.

Officers previously requested that people do not approach the mammal in case it leads to it beaching itself.

But crowds gathered to watch it, while rowers took close-up videos from their boats.

The porpoise's fin was spotted bobbing up and down along the south west London part of the river.
@LexieCarducci

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said the animal welfare charity has been made aware of a dolphin which has been spotted in the River Thames.

"We are liaising with British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), who are monitoring the mammal and are available to assist their teams if necessary," she said.

And a spokeswoman for the BDMLR said the group were not concerned about the animal's welfare as it is fairly common for them to travel up the river.

It is thought to be the fourth time a dolphin or porpoise has been sighted in the Thames in nine months.

In May this year an ex-Olympic swimmer recorded what appeared to be a dolphin in the Thames in Richmond.

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