[ad_1]
In 1957 the Thames was so polluted it was declared “biologically dead” by the Natural History Museum. But a new State of the Thames report shows the river is now home to a range of wildlife, some of which seems surprisingly out of place.
Shark species present in the river include tope, spurdogs and starry smooth-hound.
Tope grow up to 6ft and are known to be aggressive while spurdogs release a venom from their fins which can cause swelling in humans.
The sharks are born in the Thames’s shallows and are likely to remain for up to two years.
This new report was conducted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Along with a range of sharks, it found 115 species of fish and 92 species of birds in the Tidal Thames (the area of the river that is subject to tides).
It also measured close to 600 hectares of saltmarsh, which is a crucial habitat for many forms of wildlife.
Interesting species currently present in the river include seahorses, eels and seals.
Experts do, however, note a slight decline in the number of fish species in the Thames in recent years, though they say more research is needed to determine the cause.
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak unveils Brexit masterplan with EU rules ripped up
Short-term trends show that water conditions have improved over the years.
But conservationists are keen to ensure that this progress is not squandered.
Some believe that London’s upcoming sewage system, the Thames Tideway Tunnel, will help to ensure sage levels are kept under control.
Alison Debney from ZSL said the report gives an idea of how much the Thames has improved since it was declared “dead”.
She said: “Estuaries provide us with clean water, protection from flooding and are an important nursery for wildlife.
“This report has enabled us to really look at how far the Thames has come on its journey to recovery.”
Scientists will continue to keep an eye on water conditions to ensure the river doesn’t sink to its former self.
[ad_2]
