Two dolphins found dead on banks of River Thames

Two dolphins have been found dead on the banks of the River Thames after one was spotted in the river last week.

On Thursday, a common dolphin was seen swimming between Hammersmith and Putney bridges.

But, yesterday a dolphin was pictured dead on the bank of the river in Battersea, near Chelsea Harbour Pier.

Another dolphin has been found on the riverbank at Greenwich.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), which was tracking the dolphin spotted on Thursday.

A spokeswoman said: “We have been made aware of two dolphins found deceased in the Thames yesterday. 

“However, we cannot confirm if either are the same as was seen over the past few days.”

Liz Sandeman, co-founder of the charity Marine Connection said both of the dolphins found dead are the same species – common dolphins – and are believed to be from the same pod.

Ms Sandeman said: “Seeing any dolphin in the Thames is concerning but especially common dolphins because they can’t live in brackish water – a combination of salt and freshwater.”

The BDMLR said autopsies on the dolphins may shed light on what had caused their deaths.

Mary Tester, a Thames area coordinator with the BDMLR, told BBC London there were a “lot of different theories” on why dolphins were “coming down the river”.

One explanation, she said, was the improved water quality of the Thames over recent years, which had increased the level of fish that dolphins preyed on.

BDMLR’s volunteers are trained to treat marine mammals that become stranded on land and are now seeking permission to assist animals that may be in distress in the Thames.

Members of the public that spot a dolphin swimming in the Thames, or any inland waterway, have been urged to alert the BDMLR and avoid following it in boats or canoes.

Pictured top: The common dolphin spotted in the Thames last week (Picture: Alexander Nicoloau/Climate Centre)