Swim for your life, Benny
Concerns as whale heads towards sea
BENNY the beluga whale spent a second day feeding in the Thames yesterday, as hopes grew that he was edging back towards the sea.
But experts voiced fears he might face a dangerous situation when he does leave the estuary mouth.
The RSPCA’s Acting Chief Inspector Claire Dew said they would be keeping a close watch on the whale’s progress
She said: “The mouth of the Thames is potentially dangerous because of the boats. It is amazing it came through there. The noise and reverberation under water can be unbelievable.
“It is an endangered species. We have to protect it... but it is a wild animal.” Onlookers flocked to the banks of the estuary yesterday in the hope of catching a glimpse of the ghostly white whale.
And the crowds were not disappointed after its hump broke water repeatedly near Gravesend, in Kent.
Earlier in the day, the whale had worried experts by seeming to be heading upstream towards London.
But last night, Benny – as he has been nicknamed – moved further east and closer to the Channel.
RSPCA chiefs said: “There are no major concerns for the welfare of the animal, as it seems to be swimming strongly and feeding normally, able to move fast in the water and dive.
“We want to ensure it is given the best chance of survival and that means returning to the sea under its own steam.”
But marine experts warned the whale could remain in the Thames for weeks or possibly months.
Geoff Hammock, 53, and Samantha Lipman, 28, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, spent three hours monitoring the whale from a boat yesterday.
Mr Hammock said the animal appeared to be “fine”, adding: “It is as well as can be expected. We think it is feeding. We think if there was not any food it would have been looking for food. It keeps coming back to the same point.”
Ms Lipman said the whale could stay in the Thames “for weeks or months if he or she is happy feeding”.
She added: “We are looking at body condition and behaviour. We are just going on what we can observe. It looks like it could be a sub-adult, it has grey tinges.
“There have only been about 20 reports in British waters, so it is a really rare occurrence.”
Local resident Andrew Wildman, 63, came down to the Thames hoping to catch a glimpse of the whale.
Andrew said: “I was amazed. It is not the sort of thing you see every day.”
The mouth of the Thames is dangerous because of the boats CLAIRE DEW CHIEF INSPECTOR AT RSPCA