In January 2006 a juvenile female Northern Bottlenose whale was discovered swimming in the River Thames. It was the first time the species had been seen in the Thames since records began in 1913.
The Thames whale
The whale was 5 metres (16 ft) long and weighed about 7 tonnes (15,400 lb).
Newborn : 3.6m (11.9ft)
Adult female: 6.9-8.7m (22.8-28.7ft)
Adult male: 7.5-9.8m (24.7-32.3ft)
The normal habitat of the Northern Bottlenosed whales is in north Atlantic off Norway and the Barents Sea and off northern Britain and Ireland in the summer.
They feed on squid.
More information on the Northern Bottlenose Whale - Arkive
Pictorial guide to the River Thames from source to sea
Follow Winnine the Pooh's trip down the Thames
London's Famous River
On this day also .......
Makar Sankranti / Lohri (Hindu) Harvest Festival
Sankranti means to go from one place to another place (to change direction). The time when the sun changes direction from one constellation (of the zodiac) to another is known as Sankranti.
It is celebrated in mid-winter and marks the transition of the sun from the Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
People take dips in rivers and worship the Sun God especially in the holy Ganges river. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow "punya". Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest.