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] London EscortsDate Posted:23:43:46 03/05/06 Sun London Escorts
Remember the rescue operation for the London whale stuck in the thames river. It got worldwide sympathy and a lot of cash thrown at saving it.
We have come a long since the whaling days and indeed the last time one stranded its self more than 40 years ago when it was declared dangerous and left to die.
The recent whale rescue attempt was organised by the BDMLR volunteers who started when distemper hit the seal population 20 odd years ago. (British Divers Marine Life Rescue). Since the seals now seem to be ok they have been busy saving creatures washed all round our coast line ever since. The BDMLR now have 3,000 volunteer experts in many areas including divers, boat handlers and so on.
Whales have ventured up the Thames to London a few times over the years, but never before gained peoples support and sympathy. The last time such a large whale was spotted was 1961 when a minke whale 16ft long was spotted near Kew Bridge.
Whales have had a tougher time during the 17th century when London was home to a whaling fleet that killed tens of thousands every year for oil for lamp lights.
The earliest sighting was 1240 when historians recorded a “beast of prodigious size” swimming under London Bridge. The reaction was to chase it upstream and harpoon it to death.
Recently rescue groups have been looking for better ways to deal with strandings. A report by the BDMLR said that with 40 porpoises, dolphins and whales being stranded each year in Britain, there was a risk that some rescues could prolong their suffering. BDMLR's view is that animals like the Thames whale would stand a better chance of survival if rehabilitated and restored to health in a dedicated facility. BDMLR's conclusion is that the cost and manpower are currently beyond the BDMLR in its current state.
Old onlooker the London whale