Whale in Central London Update=Whale Dies

#1 Postby **P.K.** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:23 am

Not every day this happens!

Whale spotted in central London

A large whale has been spotted in the River Thames in central London by boaters and sightseers.

The mammal, thought to be a pilot whale which can grow to 20ft, was seen swimming past the Houses of Parliament.

"I saw it blow, it was a spout of water which sparkled in the air," said Tom Howard-Vyne, who works at the London Eye, on the other side of the river.

The whale is believed to have travelled upstream passing the Thames Barrier early on Friday morning.

'Breathing normally'

"It was on this side of Westminster Bridge and 10 minutes ago it was near the House of Commons, " said Mr Howard-Vyne. "It was an amazing sight."

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) sent a lifeboat to check up on the whale's condition.

Liz Sandeman, a medic of the Marine Connection, a whale and dolphin protection charity, accompanied the RNLI to examine the animal.

"It looks quite healthy and quite relaxed," she said. "It's breathing normally and its weight seems good."

She said boats in the river could be a danger to the animal.

"There's also the noise which could affect it - the Thames is extremely busy. The last thing we want to do is stress the animal out.

"Some people think it has lost its way or is not feeling well, but it's very hard to say why it is here."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4631396.stm

Skywatch_NC · #2 Postby **Skywatch_NC** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:56 am

Hope that human friends can somehow help the wayward whale get turned around.

Eric

#3 Postby **coriolis** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:18 pm

The whale is on holiday and wanted to see London. Can't blame her for that.

arkess7 · #4 Postby **arkess7** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:48 pm

awwwww!!!!!!!! I hope it finds its way back out in the ocean!!!!

TexasStooge · #5 Postby **TexasStooge** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:54 pm

coriolis wrote:The whale is on holiday and wanted to see London. Can't blame her for that.

That's one way to put it.

Hope the whale finds its way back home.

#6 Postby **Stephanie** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:24 pm

It reminds me of the Beluga whale that visited the Delaware River around here last summer. He ended up leaving after touring the Philadelphia region. Hopefully your pilot whale will be alright and do the same.

#7 Postby **P.K.** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:24 pm

Sounds like it is the first whale seen in London since records began in 1913! Problem is they swim against the tide which will tire it out. Northern Bottlenose whales are deep water whales apparently, which is why it is odd that it was anyway near the Thames.

Astro_man92 · #8 Postby **Astro_man92** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:15 pm

TexasStooge wrote:
coriolis wrote:The whale is on holiday and wanted to see London. Can't blame her for that.

That's one way to put it.

Hope the whale finds its way back home.

lol I just heard this on the news and still am in disbileif

James · #9 Postby **James** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:47 am

They've just lifted the whale onto a barge.

Skywatch_NC · #10 Postby **Skywatch_NC** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:55 am

James wrote:They've just lifted the whale onto a barge.

I read online this morning that the whale appears injured, too, so prayerfully/hopefully he/she will be able to survive once back to sea.

#11 Postby **Stephanie** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:42 am

Skywatch_NC wrote:
James wrote:They've just lifted the whale onto a barge.

I read online this morning that the whale appears injured, too, so prayerfully/hopefully he/she will be able to survive once back to sea.

I'm glad that they did get him and are trying to help him. I saw in the paper this morning that some witnesses said that he looked to be in distress. I hope that they are successful.

DoctorHurricane2003 · #12 Postby **DoctorHurricane2003** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:49 pm

> NEWS ALERT
The whale rescuers were attempting to remove from London's River Thames today has died, the London Port Authority says

Skywatch_NC · #13 Postby **Skywatch_NC** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:50 pm

#14 Postby **cycloneye** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:51 pm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10940878/

:uarrow:

A sad ending to the life of the whale. :cry:

P.K I edited the title of the thread to include the sad news.

Terrell · #15 Postby **Terrell** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:20 pm

While I wish the whale hadn't died, it was probably just the whale's time.

#16 Postby **P.K.** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 5:19 pm

They did their best to save it.

arkess7 · #17 Postby **arkess7** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:09 pm

how sad

guess he was trying to find a place to die if he was injured.........most whales try to beach themselves when its their time to go......wonder why the whale didnt do that?

#18 Postby **O Town** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:22 pm

Rainband · #19 Postby **Rainband** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:32 pm

TexasStooge · #20 Postby **TexasStooge** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:17 pm

That's sad. :cry:

Whale in Central London Update=Whale Dies

Whale in Central London Update=Whale Dies

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