A dolphin was spotted swimming in the River Thames alongside rowers on Thursday, August 1st. The marine animal was seen breaching the water just west of Putney Bridge in West London around midday, much to the delight of the rowers.
Mike Benson, head of rowing at Barn Elms Boat House, rushed out onto the water in one of their launches to get a closer look at the common dolphin. He mentioned that it was a rare sight to see a dolphin in the Thames and that they were trying to ensure the dolphin wasn’t distressed by slowing down passing boats.
Although dolphins are typically seen in open water in large numbers, this particular sighting was unusual as common dolphins are offshore species. The sighting of the dolphin coincided with the 2024 National Whale and Dolphin Watch event organized by the Sea Watch Foundation, where volunteers around the UK monitor and report sightings of these marine mammals.
Marine mammal medics from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue are keeping an eye on the dolphin in case it becomes stranded. Mr. Benson shared his previous experience of encountering a dolphin in 2018, which unfortunately did not survive, making him pessimistic about the current dolphin’s chances.
The appearance of a dolphin in the Thames is a cause for concern, as it is not a typical habitat for these marine mammals. The Sea Watch Foundation encourages the public to report any marine mammal sightings to better understand and protect these species, preventing unusual occurrences like this from happening again.
As the dolphin continues to be monitored, there is hope that it will find its way back to the open waters where it belongs. Let’s continue to appreciate the beauty of these creatures from a distance and ensure their safety and well-being in their natural habitats.