Is there life in the Thames river?

While seahorses, eels, seals and shark species such as tope, starry smooth hound and spurdog sharks can now be found living in the river, the first major report into the state of the Thames in 60 years, estimates that 115 species of fish can be found in the estuary too.



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In 1759, a 24ft grampus or orca was caught at the mouth of the river and brought to Westminster bridge on a barge. In 1772, another grampus, 18 feet long, was caught; in 1788, 17 sperm whales stranded on the Thames' lower reaches. And in 1791, a 30ft orca was chased up the river as far as Deptford, and slain.

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The River Thames, known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At 215 miles, it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the River Severn.



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According to Ian Tokelove of the London Wildlife Trust, there are 125 types of fish in the Tidal Thames (from the estuary mouth to Teddington Lock). Ed Randall of the Thames Angler's Conservancy names bream, perch, pike, roach, rudd, dace, ruffe, barbel, native and non-native carp, chub and gudgeon among them.

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Over the years, reports of body parts showing up in the waters of London have included chins, pelvises, arms, and even the dead body of a sheep wrapped in a duvet. Worryingly, this is not as uncommon as you might think. It is reported that, on average, a dead human body is found once a week1 in the River Thames.

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The oldest skull ever found on the banks of the River Thames – dating from about 5,600 years ago – will go on display at the Museum of London.

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The Congo is the deepest river in the world. Its headwaters are in the north-east of Zambia, between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa (Malawi), 1760 metres above sea level; it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

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