A whale that was stranded in the River Thames has been moved on to a barge and is being taken back to open water.
The 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale, first spotted in London on Friday, was placed in a special pontoon in shallow water near Battersea Bridge.
It was then tethered close to two boats and towed to Vauxhall Bridge to a barge which is heading for the river estuary.
If veterinary tests show it is healthy enough to survive, it is hoped it can be released off the south coast.
However, if the whale is too weak experts may take the decision to put it down.
A sighting of the whale on Saturday near Albert Bridge, in Chelsea, disappointed rescuers buoyed by an earlier report that it had been seen in Greenwich, which is closer open water.
As the rescuers moved the whale applause broke out among the 3,000 onlookers some on Battersea Bridge, which had been closed, as the whale passed beneath.
It is on an inflatable raft which is functioning as "makeshift whale mattress" on which it is being constantly watered down and monitored by experts.
Source
The 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale, first spotted in London on Friday, was placed in a special pontoon in shallow water near Battersea Bridge.
It was then tethered close to two boats and towed to Vauxhall Bridge to a barge which is heading for the river estuary.
If veterinary tests show it is healthy enough to survive, it is hoped it can be released off the south coast.
However, if the whale is too weak experts may take the decision to put it down.
A sighting of the whale on Saturday near Albert Bridge, in Chelsea, disappointed rescuers buoyed by an earlier report that it had been seen in Greenwich, which is closer open water.
As the rescuers moved the whale applause broke out among the 3,000 onlookers some on Battersea Bridge, which had been closed, as the whale passed beneath.
It is on an inflatable raft which is functioning as "makeshift whale mattress" on which it is being constantly watered down and monitored by experts.
Source
