- 25921 Posts
- 892 Topics
- 0 Solutions
BBC News [1 hour ago]:
Humpback whale spotted in River Thames
A humpback whale thought to be up to 10 metres (33ft) in length has been spotted in the River Thames.
It first surfaced in Dartford over the weekend and experts, who say it does not seem to be distressed, hope it will find its own way back to sea.
Ship pilots in the area have been told to proceed with caution.
- 128218 Posts
- 835 Topics
- 7590 Solutions
I saw it. Apparently this is quite normal for the Thames according to the reporter?
- 96020 Posts
- 612 Topics
- 7149 Solutions
At least it isn't lost and trapped.
- 12965 Posts
- 120 Topics
- 402 Solutions
Always find it a strange thought that whales like The Thames 🤔
Heard it this morning hope it gets out soon.
Thanks for the info @Mi-Amigo
- 12965 Posts
- 120 Topics
- 402 Solutions
Still here this morning! What do hump back whales eat? Krill and very small fish so having a good feed up then. @Mi-Amigo
- 128218 Posts
- 835 Topics
- 7590 Solutions
All shipping have been given warnings to be careful.
Having said that, a Beluga whale nicknamed Benny spent 3 months in the Thames last year before eventually making it's way back to the ocean.
Marine experts say this humpback appears well and is acting normally.
I bet Charles wishes it had appeared somewhere in his Principality, then he could say he was the Prince of.... in all respects 
Yeah yeah but it's just past 8 in the morning and I'm just about to head out to work so gimme a break will ya?
Hope it finds it's way out and you all have a good day.
- 96020 Posts
- 612 Topics
- 7149 Solutions
@Anonymous wrote:I bet Charles wishes it had appeared somewhere in his Principality, then he could say he was the Prince of.... in all respects
Yeah yeah but it's just past 8 in the morning and I'm just about to head out to work so gimme a break will ya?
Hope it finds it's way out and you all have a good day.
- 25921 Posts
- 892 Topics
- 0 Solutions
Latest on "Hessy" the humpback whale
The Sun reported today [Tues] at 10.45am:
The whale has already been named online as “Hessy” - and was seen between Crayford Ness and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in Dartford, Kent - more than 60 miles in land from the sea - after midnight.
Martin Garside, from the Port of London Authority, said "There were a number of sightings by boats on the river during the course of yesterday. We have not had any confirmed sightings today. As far as the reports yesterday go, it is a dark-coloured whale with a small dorsal fin - so it is not anything like the beluga. This animal is darker. All we know at this stage is it is dark-coloured. There are varying estimates of size, between five metres and 10 metres. That is consistent in description with a humpback and also other types, including a minke whale. We are working with British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who are monitoring the behaviour of the whale and the type of species"
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue service confirmed the sighting of the whale. A member of the team said: "We observed the humpback whale in the Thames Estuary for just over three hours today, the whale was diving and surfacing at approximately 5-6 minute intervals, slowly moving down river with the outgoing tide."
Experts said there was hope that it is healthy, as it is diving and surfacing in the normal way, every five minutes.
Julia Cable, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said: “We hope it will not be staying in the river for long although there is ample food. It’s come from the Channel or North Sea and could have had navigational problems.”
- 96020 Posts
- 612 Topics
- 7149 Solutions
unfortunately the latest is that the whale has died....:smileysad:
