Seals make a splash: Grey seal resurgence in London's Thames
Few people would expect such a sight. Seals and smaller grey seals are increasingly being spotted off the coast of... London. The animals have taken a liking to living along the banks of the Thames. Experts explain the implications of this phenomenon.
After years of not being seen in the Baltic, they have unexpectedly appeared in the centre of London. Grey seals, once known simply as Grey Seals, have returned to a rather unexpected place, causing a sensation among the residents of the British capital.
Grey seals were exterminated across most of the Baltic lands since the 19th century when they were considered a threat to fish valued by humans — such as herring, vendace, or salmon. Mass hunting of these seals at the beginning of the 20th century decimated their population.
This species is still seen in the Baltic Sea basin. Grey seals are spotted off the coasts of Sweden, Finland, and Estonia and encountered in Poland. The largest population of this species currently lives on the Åland Islands.
However, the greatest sensation was caused by these animals' presence off the Thames banks. Grey seals have returned to the centre of London, choosing the once-polluted river as their habitat.
According to data provided by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), nearly 3,000 seals live off the banks of the London River. Recently, 2,988 were counted in this area, and over 700, as Interia reports, regularly bask on the urban shores of the Thames.
Seals have settled here permanently, breeding and living without much concern for the presence of humans. The sight of a grey seal swimming along the boulevards does not surprise any of the locals. Although the Thames is not the cleanest, it offers marine animals up to 125 species of fish favoured by seals.
