From whales to deadly sharks- all the animals spotted in the River Thames

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From a giant statue of Michael Jackson to a 16th Century Sword and even a 5,000-year-old human bone, nothing surprises the Thames now.

But away from the non-living kind, the London landmark has seen just as many odd and amazing creatures.

It’s not only humans that like to be tourists, as dozens of animals have been spotted floating down the River Thames over the years.

While you may often spot a typical fish or two, you might not expect the likes of whales or even deadly sharks, but their Thames sightings have been recorded.

Atlantic white sided dolphins spotted in the Thames at Teddington Lock yesterday. Amazing but so sad to see them such a long way from home. Kids are desperate for news on how they are doing. Any update today? @RNLI @BDMLR @TW11Harbour @MyRichmondLdn pic.twitter.com/KBmEEVMLmB

— travelmeerkat (@travelmeerkat) April 21, 2024

All the animals spotted in the River Thames

Below you can see a full list of all the animals recorded to be seen in the River Thames according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and London Wildlife Trust.

European eels
Short snouted Seahorse
Harbour and Grey seals
Tope and Starry Smoothhound sharks
Oysters
125 different species of fish
Northern Bottlenose Whale
Dolphins
Porpoises
Otters
Seahorse
Pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats
Swans
Grey Herons
Cormorants
Canada and Egyptian Geese
Mallard
Grey Wagtails
Pied Wagtails

Back in 2006, London was amazed when a Northern Bottlenose Whale was spotted in the Thames near Battersea when the animal became beached.

Whilst attempts were made to rescue the whale it sadly did not survive and is now in the National Research Collection at the Natural History Museum.

The Thames has seen at least five species of sharks in recorded times, with the most common being the Tope and Starry Smoothhound sharks.

ZSL believes that the Greater Thames Estuary is somewhat used as a nursing ground for the sharks.

They shared: “Adult sharks are thought to like pupping in shallow bays and estuaries and as such the Thames provides an ideal habitat, with young sharks remaining in these nursery ground for up to two years.”

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Two species of seals like to call the Thames their home, with the harbour and grey seals often spotted.

Records show a population of around 4,000 that live along the sandbank and the hidden coastal areas in the outer estuary.

Dolphins were most recently spotted in the Thames in April 2024 with videos of the friendly animals going viral.