The Canal & River Trust were rather surprised when this dolphin tried to head up the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal from Sharpness Docks.
Think of waterways wildlife and you’ll probably be think of spotting herons, kingfishers, and if you’re really lucky a water vole or an otter – but the Canal & River Trust were rather surprised when this dolphin tried to head up the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal from Sharpness Docks.
CRT ecologist Laura Mullholland said it was likely to have “got a bit disorientated following some fish”. Mike Nash from the Trust’s Sharpness team said “I’ve seen dolphins in the entrance to Sharpness before, but never inside – and we had to do everything we could to stop it heading up the canal.” The Severn Area Rescue Association’s local lifeboats came to the assistance of CRT in guiding the dolphin back out of the docks towards the sea.
Meanwhile on the other side of the country, marine mammals including dolphins and seals are making a comeback in the Thames estuary. See our news story in the November issue of Canal Boat, and visit http://sites.zsl.org/inthethames to see how you can help the Thames Marine Mammal Survey if you spot one.
