On the 20th anniversary of the Northern Bottlenose Whale discovered in the River Thames – here’s a look at all the creatures located in the river recently. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments
Two decades ago — on January 20, 2006, the planet was captivated, as an uncommon Northern Bottlenose Whale navigated its way up the Thames River and eventually became stranded.
Recognised as one of the most profound divers among mammals on the planet, these whales typically inhabit the North Atlantic Ocean or areas proximate to the coasts of Northern Ireland or the extreme north of Scotland, possessing the capacity to plunge to depths of up to 2,339 m (7,674 feet).
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They can submerge for periods reaching 130 minutes; however, on that ill-fated day, a young Northern Bottlenose, given the name Willy, inadvertently journeyed to central London in a regrettable turn of events.
The situation, which initially sparked interest, tragically ended in sorrow when Willy succumbed to convulsions during a rescue operation the subsequent day, January 21, following increasing apprehensions about its condition.
Nevertheless, Willy isn’t the singular deep-sea inhabitant to have strayed into London’s primary waterway. Over the passage of years, diverse marine species have been observed either within or nearby the River Thames. Sadly, the majority of these occurrences have concluded with the animals meeting a premature end.
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Below is a catalogue of the creatures sighted in the River Thames in recent times:
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2024
In recent times, particularly in 2024, a solitary common dolphin, referred to as Jo Jo, was noticed frolicking in the Thames River in West London, positioned between the Hammersmith and Putney bridges. Reports suggest it marked the fourth instance within that year alone of a dolphin venturing into the London portion of the Thames, according to Mary Tester, the Thames area representative with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
While Mary indicated that spotting dolphins in the Thames Estuary, located near the North Sea, was “completely normal”, she noted “when the dolphins enter London, it’s a different matter”.
Regrettably, in the days that followed, a deceased dolphin was discovered on the banks of the Thames in West London, adjacent to Chelsea Harbour Pier. An additional deceased dolphin was also located on the Greenwich riverbank; however, the precise timing of the animal’s passing remained undetermined.
2021
In a sorrowful occurrence, a young minke whale became marooned in the Thames during May 2021 and ultimately required euthanasia to prevent prolonged suffering.
The decision was made to put the animal to rest after unsuccessful attempts to guide it back to open waters, with the mammal exhibiting evident signs of distress, including indications of injury and exhaustion.
Initially identified in the Thames near Richmond Lock, the juvenile minke whale was effectively returned to the water in the early hours of the morning following its discovery; nonetheless, it became stranded once more, this time situated further upstream near Teddington.
2019
During October 2019, two whales encountered stranding and were discovered deceased within the Thames, separated by mere weeks. The initial whale, a baby humpback named Hessy, was first observed in the Thames’ waters on October 6, before ultimately being found deceased on October 8 near Greenhithe in Kent.
A subsequent examination of the 27-foot-long juvenile humpback’s remains indicated the likelihood of its demise stemming from an injury sustained from a vessel collision in the days preceding its appearance in the Thames.
Just weeks later, on October 18, a second whale, speculated to be a fin whale, was uncovered deceased near Gravesend, within the river at Denton.
2018
The year 2018 marked the period when Benny the Beluga Whale generated considerable excitement (pun intended) across the globe.
This creature was repeatedly observed within the Thames over a span of three months; however, it refrained from navigating too far up the estuary, primarily observed feeding in the Kent segment of the Thames during November through December of that year.
Experts propose the mammal likely departed the river of its own volition and (hopefully) made its way back out to sea.
2009
In September 2009, a 9.5-metre-long (28 feet) juvenile male Humpback Whale was sadly located deceased in the River Thames near Dartford Bridge in Kent.
This constituted the initial documented instance of a Humpback Whale within the Thames, and regrettably, the mammal was believed to have died due to undernourishment.
The young whale’s remains were discovered proximate to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
2006
The year that altered everything. It was the year Willy the Northern Bottlenose Whale
brought the globe to a standstill as the populace of London assembled on the streets to glimpse the uncommon mammal floating in the Thames’ waters. Regrettably, the narrative lacked a positive resolution, as Willy perished from inherent causes amidst a rescue endeavour.
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A post-mortem examination disclosed numerous profound lacerations across the whale’s underbelly, dorsal fin, and head, probably attributable to impacts with vessels and abrasion against the rugged riverbed.
The sanctioned reason for its demise was confirmed as dehydration, renal insufficiency, and muscular impairment. The Northern Bottlenose’s skeletal structure was presented to the Natural History Museum where it is currently available for viewing.