Being at the centre of London, the Thames has been through and seen a lot, from the Romans first using it as a key port for trading, to the Vikings heading up the Thames to attack London Bridge and even James Bond speeding down the river.
But while we know mostly everything that takes place above water, there’s a lot that goes on beneath the Thames that we’re clueless about.
Including what lives there.
While there have been sightings of seals, seahorses, swans, mallards, otters, dolphins and even a whale in the past, there is one more species that calls the Thames its home.
Are there sharks in the River Thames?
It has previously been recorded at least five types of species of sharks have been seen in the River Thames, the most common being the Tope and Starry Smoothhound sharks.
Zoological Society of London (ZSL) shares that it is believed that the smoothhound shark gives birth in the Thames, using the estuary as “pupping grounds and nursery habitats for their young.”
They add: “Adult sharks are thought to like pupping in shallow bays and estuaries and as such the Thames provides an ideal habitat, with young sharks remaining in these nursery grounds for up to two years.”
While there is some understanding surrounding sharks in the Thames, there is little known about how the sharks use the Thames and why.
However, ZSL is working hard at understanding the sharks that live within the Thames, with their ‘Greater Thames Shark Project’.
As they share: “Sharks were not discovered in the Thames by ZSL scientists, but we are working, as are others, to better understand how these fascinating animals use the estuary and how we might safeguard their survival in the wild.”
With the project, the ZSL hopes to track the species using yellow shark tags that began in February 2023.
If you find a shark with a yellow tag, you can report it via the ZSL.
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Are the sharks in the Thames dangerous?
If you are worried that the sharks in the Thames are dangerous, fear not, as they are reported to not be from a ‘dangerous’ species.
ZSL explains: “It is highly unlikely that the species known to be in the Thames estuary would be encountered by visitors to the water, and they should not be considered a danger to people.”
