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Beluga whale spotted again in Thames amid concerns for its safety Beluga whale spotted again in Thames amid concerns for its safety
(35 minutes later)
Fresh sightings of a beluga whale in the Thames have been confirmed, amid growing concern about its safety.Fresh sightings of a beluga whale in the Thames have been confirmed, amid growing concern about its safety.
Unconfirmed video footage of the whale was posted just after 9.30am on Wednesday morning. The RSPCA cast doubt on the first of report, saying it was impossible to identify the creature from the footage. But later its acting chief inspector, Clare Dew, who is at the scene, confirmed subsequent sightings. “The beluga is back and we are monitoring the situation,” a RSPCA spokeswoman said. Unconfirmed footage of the whale was posted just after 9.30am on Wednesday. The RSPCA cast doubt on the first report, saying it was impossible to identify the creature from the video. But later its acting chief inspector, Clare Dew, who is at the scene, confirmed subsequent sightings. “The beluga is back and we are monitoring the situation,” a spokeswoman said.
BELUGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @beardybirder pic.twitter.com/X3mjXhE0FkBELUGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @beardybirder pic.twitter.com/X3mjXhE0Fk
Dave Andrews, the ecologist who first filmed the whale on Tuesday, said the beluga appeared to be feeding near barges off Gravesend. He urged boat owners and television crews to stay away.Dave Andrews, the ecologist who first filmed the whale on Tuesday, said the beluga appeared to be feeding near barges off Gravesend. He urged boat owners and television crews to stay away.
Samantha Lipman, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, a charity that specialises in saving marine animals in distress around the UK, also urged the media and the public to keep a safe distance.Samantha Lipman, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, a charity that specialises in saving marine animals in distress around the UK, also urged the media and the public to keep a safe distance.
Lipman, the charity’s Thames area coordinator on standby near the scene, said: “It is illegal to disturb or harass any whale, dolphin or porpoise in British waters. It is the same with helicopters that have been going overhead. Noise from above and the wind movement from propellers is going to affect them and could start herding the animal in a direction we don’t want it to go in.”Lipman, the charity’s Thames area coordinator on standby near the scene, said: “It is illegal to disturb or harass any whale, dolphin or porpoise in British waters. It is the same with helicopters that have been going overhead. Noise from above and the wind movement from propellers is going to affect them and could start herding the animal in a direction we don’t want it to go in.”
Lipman expressed concern that the beluga could go further upriver towards central London. She said: “The further up you go, the busier the river is. A sighting will attract more traffic so we are really urging people to watch from shore if it is around.” She expressed concern that the beluga could go further upriver towards central London. “The further up you go, the busier the river is,” she said. “A sighting will attract more traffic so we are really urging people to watch from shore if it is around.”
The #Thames #BELUGA is back feeding in its favoured spot around the barges on the Kent side. Please all boats including @LondonPortAuth keep clear and let it alone. @SkyNews @BBCBreaking @ITVnewsdeskThe #Thames #BELUGA is back feeding in its favoured spot around the barges on the Kent side. Please all boats including @LondonPortAuth keep clear and let it alone. @SkyNews @BBCBreaking @ITVnewsdesk
The charity will consider trying to rescue the whale only if it appears to be in distress. Lipman said: “We can try to herd the animal out to sea with boats or helicopters but that is quite an extreme and risky measure and we don’t want to do more harm than good.”The charity will consider trying to rescue the whale only if it appears to be in distress. Lipman said: “We can try to herd the animal out to sea with boats or helicopters but that is quite an extreme and risky measure and we don’t want to do more harm than good.”
For now the charity plans to continue to monitor the whale. “It has been seen swimming strongly, so while it is free swimming and seemingly in that stronger position, it is a case of monitoring it, because logistically it would be very difficult to scoop an animal out of the water. It would cause it a lot of stress,” Lipman said. For now, the charity plans to continue to monitor the whale. “It has been seen swimming strongly, so while it is free swimming and seemingly in that stronger position, it is a case of monitoring it, because logistically it would be very difficult to scoop an animal out of the water. It would cause it a lot of stress,” Lipman said.
“If it were to deteriorate and look as if it was in trouble, or it did actually strand, then we have got a team of medics and volunteers ready to intervene if necessary.”“If it were to deteriorate and look as if it was in trouble, or it did actually strand, then we have got a team of medics and volunteers ready to intervene if necessary.”
#Belugawhale to right of yellow bouy
A post shared by Dan Maclaren (@mac2003laren) on Sep 26, 2018 at 3:34am PDT
She added: “There is a risk that the animal is unwell or something has caused it to to come inland up the Thames. It could just be a navigation error or some underlying condition. The longer it is here the more likely it will be classed to be a solitary animal and there are all sorts of problems with solitary animals. One of the biggest problems is humans trying to approach it.”She added: “There is a risk that the animal is unwell or something has caused it to to come inland up the Thames. It could just be a navigation error or some underlying condition. The longer it is here the more likely it will be classed to be a solitary animal and there are all sorts of problems with solitary animals. One of the biggest problems is humans trying to approach it.”
The Environment Agency said it was not planning to close the Thames barrier to prevent the beluga from swimming further upriver.The Environment Agency said it was not planning to close the Thames barrier to prevent the beluga from swimming further upriver.
Martin Garside, a spokesman for the Port of London Authority, also played down the prospect of closing the barrier. “That would be a huge decision to take and a desperate last resort. And it would only stop it moving from one part of Woolwich to another part of Woolwich. It would be in a right old pickle if it ends up there,” he said.Martin Garside, a spokesman for the Port of London Authority, also played down the prospect of closing the barrier. “That would be a huge decision to take and a desperate last resort. And it would only stop it moving from one part of Woolwich to another part of Woolwich. It would be in a right old pickle if it ends up there,” he said.
No. We're only allowed to operate the Barrier for flood defence purposes or for testing, as set out in the Act. As far as I'm aware it's not heading our way?No. We're only allowed to operate the Barrier for flood defence purposes or for testing, as set out in the Act. As far as I'm aware it's not heading our way?
Garside was on a patrol boat monitoring the whale on Tuesday. He said: “It surfaced right next to us. It’s beautiful, almost white in colour; it’s sort of ghostly in a good way. We backed off when we realised how close we were and cut our engines. We saw it for about an hour between 3pm and 4pm.”Garside was on a patrol boat monitoring the whale on Tuesday. He said: “It surfaced right next to us. It’s beautiful, almost white in colour; it’s sort of ghostly in a good way. We backed off when we realised how close we were and cut our engines. We saw it for about an hour between 3pm and 4pm.”
Garside was also on duty in 2006 when a whale died after swimming much further up the Thames. He said: “We are asking asking people not to go out in small boats looking for it. That was respected brilliantly yesterday. We were the only boat on the river. In 2006 there was a fair amount of freelance whale hunting and that is intrusive. If you got little boats whizzing around that is fairly intrusive for a whale.” He was also on duty in 2006 when a whale died after swimming much further up the Thames. “We are asking asking people not to go out in small boats looking for it. That was respected brilliantly yesterday. We were the only boat on the river. In 2006 there was a fair amount of freelance whale hunting and that is intrusive. If you got little boats whizzing around that is fairly intrusive for a whale,” Garside said.
He added: “Let’s hope it swims out, but I’ve got a bit of bad feeling about this if I’m honest because it is so badly placed.” “Let’s hope it swims out, but I’ve got a bit of bad feeling about this if I’m honest because it is so badly placed.”
WhalesWhales
LondonLondon
CetaceansCetaceans
Marine lifeMarine life
WildlifeWildlife
Thames whaleThames whale
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