h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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

says that a whale has been spotted swimming in the Thames at Westminster--they think it's a bottle-nosed whale. I'd love to see that!


Azara

Watching the live pictures now.

Hope they can help it - apparently it's injured.

Jules

Oh, that's a pity. My first reaction was just "wow!" but I forgot about how hard it might be to get the whale back out to sea.

Azara

The tide looks quite strong now, it's a windy day in the south-east. They've just said that the tide is against the whale, ie it needs to swim out to sea but can't.

Wonder what will happen - it'll be dark soon and it's already bumped into a number of boats, poor thing.

Traveller in Time making friendly noises from the North Sea
"Looks like their tail is bleeding.

'Northern Bottlenose whale'
Odontocete (Toothed whale, dolphin or porpoise)
"

Is there anyone on HooToo that is on the spot and can give us a live report?

I've been watching the live pictures too. First thought like you but this is serious. They said this afternoon that not only is the tide coming in, but this one is a Flood Tide, so higher than usual.

It is getting dark and I am wondering if they are going to try an overnight rescue or wait till tomorrow. The longer it takes the riskier it gets.

I wish someone could give us an answer to the question "Why are these strandings and lost animals happening more and more frequently.

Will be glued to BBC News 24 tonight, and any other channel covering it.

Websailor

Is it still there? We've had pictures from BBC on the news here, but I guess they're at least 12 hours old, because it was daylight.

Last I heard it was a wee bit downstream at Greenwich...

Can it be captured safely I wonder?

Very worrying... oh, and I hear another one's been spotted at Southsea, heading inland?

Fb, sorry you have had no answer before now but I've been glued to BBC News 24 and Sky News (uk) all day, as is most of the population. It is 5pm here and the whale is on pontoons, on a salvage barge heading down the Thames to the estuary.

At the moment the whale's health has taken a slight turn for the worst, but they are awaiting further test results. It is now dark, and they are appealing for anyone with a vessel large enough to crane the whale onto for a sea voyage, possibly heading round the coast to Cornwall, s obviously a river barge is not suitable.

We are waiting with baited breath to see what happens next. A real emotional rollercoaster. My heart goes out to all the volunteers, and people involved in this rescue, which has been a superb effort. In my heart I pray for a happy conclusion, but my head is saying otherwise

Websailor

The Bottlenose Whale that galvanised London and the world for two days, sadly died at about 7pm UK time. It came so near to freedom, yet so far.

Now it is no longer a hot news story I hope people will not forget, and will join with campaigners trying to get something done about the effects of human activity on our marine wildlife.

I understand the Daily Mail underwrote the costs of this operation. Well done, and thanks to everyone involved in the rescue attempt. You did your very best. We could not have asked for more.



Websailor

Oh poo

But if it was injured and / or unwell, it probably couldn't have been released again anyhow

I agree with you Websailor: I hope that it raises people's conciousenss about the fragility of the animals who share this world with us.

I've been watching the shenanigans in the Southern Ocean between Greenpeace and the Japanese whalers recently. Ooooh, it makes me so The pictures have been harrowing and the antics of both parties dangerous to say the least.

And the reason for killing the whales? Scientific research.

Yeah right.

Scientific research my a**e.

Fb

Fb,

<> Restaurant meals more like!!

Websailor

Azara