Pod of dolphins spotted in UK river around 20 miles inland

A large pod of dolphins have been spotted swimming in the River Thames around 20 miles from the sea.

Keen photographer Jason Arthur, from Gravesend, Kent, spotted around 15 pilot whales, a type of dolphin, in the river near his hometown on Thursday (17/9).

Photos show the animals’ dorsal fins sticking out of the water as they swim around a Port of London Authority vessel.

Jason, 56, said he could remember one dolphin entering the river back in 2024 – but nothing of this scale.

He said: “I couldn’t believe how many there were – when my friend told me, I rushed down there to get them.

“You don’t often see loads of them down there.

“There was a dolphin there two or three years ago, but not that many.”

A Port of London Authority spokesperson said: “There is currently a pod of pilot whales in the tidal Thames, near Gravesend.

“They are a wonderful sight but this is not the usual environment for them, so we hope they will soon be able to find their way back out to sea.

“That’s why we are working with marine mammal experts at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue organisation (BDMLR) to do all we can to keep them safe while they are with us. 

“While we know there is interest in the whales, we are strongly encouraging people to stay away so as not to alarm or hurt them or put yourselves in danger. 

“We became aware of the whales yesterday afternoon when one of our Marine Pilots spotted them from onboard a ship travelling through the Thames Estuary.

“We quickly alerted BDMLR and also notified the Local Authorities in Gravesham and Thurrock.

“We have issued broadcast information to mariners, so they know to be careful navigating through that section of the river and have one of our harbour service patrol boats monitoring the pod from a safe distance, and to alert river traffic.

“The whales are beautiful but, given this isn’t a normal place to see them, we are concerned for their welfare.

“We will continue to do all we can to keep them safe.”