Two dolphins have been found dead on the bank of the River Thames, just days after one was spotted swimming in parts of London.
Londoners were previously urged to stay away after a dolphin was spotted near Putney Bridge in southwest London and also near Hammersmith Bridge in west London on Thursday.
However, since then, two dolphins have been found dead on the bank of the Thames.
Photo: PA
Authorities are now working to recover the animals.
One was reportedly found dead in Battersea and the other in Greenwich, The Evening Standard reported.
“We are aware of reports of two dolphins that have unfortunately died,” a Port of London Authority spokesperson told Sky News.
They added: “We are working with the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Program and will recover the animals.”
Mary Tester, a volunteer with British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), was quoted as saying she was concerned about the recent increase in dolphin numbers in the Thames.
“This is a new phenomenon that appears to be increasing and shows no sign of slowing down. Because it is new, we do not have a rescue protocol in place for this,” she told The Standard.
Previously, the dolphin would have been seen “fighting the tide”.
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Julia Cable, director of operations at BDMLR, said the area where the dolphin was spotted was “too far away for a dolphin to go upriver.”
She added: “The worst thing is that if people start doing this, it could disorient you even more.
“They are used to being in the open sea, with all the noise from the river, for an animal it is very confusing.”
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