7:17am UK, Tuesday September 15, 2009A 28ft humpback whale has been found dead in the Thames - the first time ever that one of the creatures has been found in the river.
The young male was first spotted in the water on Thursday.
It was not seen again until it was found dead on Saturday morning near Dartford Bridge.
Initial examination suggests the creature may have died of starvation.
Scientists from The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said its beaching was an "incredibly unusual event".
The last humpback to be found stranded in the UK was at Port Talbot in Wales in 2007.
The ZSL team carried out a post-mortem examination after the whale was recovered by the Port of London Authority.
The programme's manager, Rob Deaville, said: "Preliminary results indicate that it may have died as a result of starvation.
"There have only been 12 strandings of humpback whales in the last 20 years and this is an incredibly unusual event."
He added: "Although it's obviously a sad outcome in this instance, the post-mortem examination has given us a rare opportunity to examine a truly extraordinary animal at close quarters.
"Information gathered through examinations like these will hopefully help further our understanding of such animals and also help contribute to improving their conservation status."
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Whale-In-River-Thames-Humpback-Is-Found-Dead-In-Water-Near-Dartford-Bridge/Article/200909215381374
See also: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/14/dead-humpback-whale-in-thames
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