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| Beluga whale spotted in the Thames off Gravesend | Beluga whale spotted in the Thames off Gravesend |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Beluga whale has been seen in the River Thames in Kent, marine life rescuers have said. | A Beluga whale has been seen in the River Thames in Kent, marine life rescuers have said. |
| It was first spotted by ecologist and ornithologist Dave Andrews, who said it had been feeding around barges near Gravesend. | |
| The British Divers Marine Life Rescue said it seemed to be "swimming strongly". | The British Divers Marine Life Rescue said it seemed to be "swimming strongly". |
| Spokeswoman Julia Cable urged the public not to get too close to the whale and "to watch it from the shore". | Spokeswoman Julia Cable urged the public not to get too close to the whale and "to watch it from the shore". |
| A Beluga whale was last spotted in the UK three years ago off the coast of Northumberland, and sightings were "extremely rare", she said. | A Beluga whale was last spotted in the UK three years ago off the coast of Northumberland, and sightings were "extremely rare", she said. |
| She added hopefully it would swim back out to sea, and not travel the other way up the Thames. | She added hopefully it would swim back out to sea, and not travel the other way up the Thames. |
| In 2006 an 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale died after becoming stranded in the river. | In 2006 an 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale died after becoming stranded in the river. |
| The RSPCA said it was aware of reports of a whale in the Thames. | |
| "We are working with other agencies to monitor the situation and ready to provide appropriate assistance if requested," it said. | |
| The Beluga whale, or white whale, can grow up to 5.5m (18ft) long and weigh up to 1,600kg (3,530lb). They are normally found in the Arctic. |