Unusual sighting: Beluga spotted in the Thames outside of London

LONDON – A Beluga whale was seen Tuesday in the Thames outside the British capital, officials said. It has been reported that it feeds near a number of barges.

Belugas are identified by distinctive white markings and are generally further north, according to the whale and dolphin conservation group.

"Belugas live in the cold Arctic waters of Greenland, Svalbard and the Barents Sea," the group said in a statement. "There have been only about 20 sightings of Beluga whales off the UK coast, but these have occurred off Northumberland, Northern Ireland and Scotland."

The whale that was spotted on Tuesday was "obviously very lost and perhaps in trouble," said Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

The unusual sighting occurred in the area of ​​Gravesend about 30 miles east of London. He was spotted by Dave Andrews, an ecologist and ornithologist, reports BBC News.

I can not believe that I write this, no joke – BELUGA in the Thames off Coalhouse Fort @RareBirdAlertUK pic.twitter.com/6VtrJ1PVc6

– Dave Andrews (@iPterodroma) September 25, 2018

The RSPCA animal protection group said it "was working with other agencies to monitor the situation" and sent researchers to the scene. He said he was ready to help the whale if other agencies asked him.

Tanya Ferry, environmental manager at the London Port Authority, said it was difficult to know what the whale could eat.

"If they eat things like jellyfish, we do not have a lot of jellyfish in the Thames, but we have a lot of plastic bags, which could be a problem," she said. .

"We hope that if we give him enough space and we watch him, he will find his own way out of the Thames in a more appropriate environment.

The Thames, one of the longest rivers in England, runs through several major cities including London, Oxford and Windsor.

Television helicopters filmed the white whale in the air while officials asked the public not to approach the animal.