A minke whale stranded along the River Thames is to be put down, rescuers have said.
Crowds gathered at Teddington Lock in south-west London on Monday to catch a glimpse of the animal, thought to be between 10ft (3m) and 13ft (4m) long.
But the whale is now due to be put to sleep as it would not survive on its own in the sea, Julia Cable, national co-ordinator at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue service, said.
A Minke whale near Teddington Lock (Yui Mok/PA)
“The vets are here from London Zoo.
“They will give the whale a large anaesthetic dose which will put it to sleep,” Ms Cable said.
A young minke whale that became stranded in the River Thames has been put down.
Crowds gathered at Teddington Lock in south-west London on Monday to catch a glimpse of the animal, thought to be between 10ft (3m) and 13ft (4m) long.
But due to its “deteriorating condition”, the decision was made to put the animal to sleep, Julia Cable, national co-ordinator at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue service, said.
“The last 45 minutes we were with the whale its condition was deteriorating, its breathing wasn’t right and it wouldn’t have survived much longer,” Ms Cable said.
“The vets said it was clearly suffering and that it was the right decision.”
Stranded minke whale in River Thames put down
Updated: May 10, 2021, 10:50 pm
The stranded whale in the River Thames was put down (Yui Mok/PA)
A young minke whale that became stranded in the River Thames has been put down.
Crowds gathered at Teddington Lock in south-west London on Monday to catch a glimpse of the animal, thought to be between 10ft (3m) and 13ft (4m) long.
But due to its “deteriorating condition”, the decision was made to put the animal to sleep, Julia Cable, national co-ordinator at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue service, said.
“The last 45 minutes we were with the whale its condition was deteriorating, its breathing wasn’t right and it wouldn’t have survived much longer,” Ms Cable said.
Minnie the 13ft minke whale is put down by vets to end its suffering after becoming trapped and distressed in reeds just hours after being freed from Richmond Lock
A 13ft minke whale which got stranded in the River Thames will be put down after its condition deteriorated
Injured baby whale dubbed Minnie has become trapped for a second time in Thames in less than 24 hours
The 13ft calf appeared to have become tangled in weeds at Teddington Lock, 60 miles from estuary
Hundreds of people gathered along the river to try and spot minke whale swimming further inland
Experts say the baby whale is showing signs of injury and distress and may not survive the ordeal
A minke whale stranded along the River Thames is to be put down, rescuers have said.
Crowds gathered at Teddington Lock in south-west London on Monday to catch a glimpse of the animal, thought to be between 10ft (3m) and 13ft (4m) long.
But the whale is now due to be put to sleep as it would not survive on its own in the sea, Julia Cable, national co-ordinator at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue service, said.
A Minke whale near Teddington Lock (Yui Mok/PA)
“The vets are here from London Zoo.
“They will give the whale a large anaesthetic dose which will put it to sleep,” Ms Cable said.