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January 22, 2006

Northern Bottlenose Whale Loses Fight

The Northern Bottlenose Whale that generated massive media coverage and captured British hearts has died.

The 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale had been placed in a special barge after it became stranded near London's Battersea Bridge.


Northern Bottlenose Whale, Greater London, River Thames, Battersea 21 January 2006 © Jeff Higgott See The Surfbirds Mammals Gallery

"A story without a happy ending - the whale died on its way to the open sea on board a barge. Undoubtedly the biggest UK wildlife twitch ever (an estimated 4000+ people watching it at midday today alone) thanks to its location in the heart of London and massive coverage in all the media." J. Higgott

The plan was to set it free in deep waters but as the tide receeded, the animal's condition worsened and rescuers aimed for a release into the Thames estuary. However, the whale finally died at about 1900 GMT en route to the Kent coast.

The story began on Friday after it was spotted moving up the Thames in central London on. It was even seen swimming past the Houses of Parliament.

River police, whale experts and teams of divers rushed to the scene. Tugs shadowed the creature on the water in an effort to persuade the whale, one of two that had been spotted yesterday in the Thames estuary 58 kms east of the capital, while airborne TV crews filmed it from above.

Posted by Surfbirds at January 22, 2006 10:12 PM

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