A small group of seals rest on mud flats at low tide,
close to the Isle of Sheppey in the Thames Estuary
Photo: John Stillwell/PA
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said that over a ten-year period,
more than 2,700 sightings had been reported.
more than 2,700 sightings had been reported.
It said that seals were the most common animal seen and were often
spotted around from bridges around Westminster.
spotted around from bridges around Westminster.
But most sightings of marine mammals were reported around the docks
and wharfs of Canary Wharf than any area along the Thames Estuary
in the past decade.
and wharfs of Canary Wharf than any area along the Thames Estuary
in the past decade.
A small group of seals rest on mud flats at low tide,
close to the Isle of Sheppey in the Thames Estuary Photo: John Stillwell/PA
Some 1,080 harbour seals were reported, as well as 333 grey seals
and 823 unknown types of seal.
and 823 unknown types of seal.
A pod of eight harbour porpoises was spotted near Kew Gardens
in 2009 and a pod of bottlenose dolphins visited Deptford in 2006.
in 2009 and a pod of bottlenose dolphins visited Deptford in 2006.
Last November, 30 pilot whales were seen near Clacton-on-Sea.
Sightings of three otters were also reported.
Sightings of three otters were also reported.
Joanna Barker, ZSL's European conservation projects manager, said:
"Many people looking into the Thames see a murky, dirty environment.
"Many people looking into the Thames see a murky, dirty environment.
"But, actually, beneath the waves, it is full of life. We have a huge range
of fish and invertebrates, and also top predators."
of fish and invertebrates, and also top predators."
The northern bottle-nosed whale that swam up
the Thames in 2006 Photo: PA
The Public Marine Mammal Sightings Survey revealed that 444 porpoises
and dolphins had been spotted on the river as well as 49 whales.
and dolphins had been spotted on the river as well as 49 whales.
Ms Barker added: "The fact we get so many sightings in central London
suggests the fish stocks are moving in to support these marine predators
suggests the fish stocks are moving in to support these marine predators
Scientists at ZSL have used planes and boats to count the number of seals
on the Thames annually for the last three years, estimating that there are
around 670 harbour seals along the estuary.
on the Thames annually for the last three years, estimating that there are
around 670 harbour seals along the estuary.
Miss Barker said: "We were pleased to see that harbour seals were some
of the most commonly spotted animals.
of the most commonly spotted animals.
"Their numbers have dramatically declined in some parts of Scotland,
so the fact that they are frequently sighted in the Thames Estuary confirms
that the South East is an important area for their conservation."
so the fact that they are frequently sighted in the Thames Estuary confirms
that the South East is an important area for their conservation."
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