Seahorses found in the Thames!

A number of short-snouted seahorses (Hippocampus hippocampus) have recently been discovered in the Thames during routine ZSL conservation surveys.

ZSL didn't announce the findings publicly when they occurred because the creatures were not protected by the Act. Usually found in shallow muddy waters, estuaries or seagrass beds, their presence in the Thames estuary is another good sign that the water quality of the river is improving - but any disturbance to their habitats could be disastrous.

Conservationists are relieved that the animals now have the full protection of the law and hope that announcing their previously hush-hush existence in the Thames will remind people how important it is to maintain the cleanliness of British waterways.

ZSL's Marine and Freshwater Conservation Programme Manager, Alison Shaw, said:

"These amazing creatures have been found in the Thames on a number of occasions in the last 18 months during our regular wildlife monitoring work. It demonstrates that the Thames is becoming a sustainable biodiverse habitat for aquatic life. It is not clear how endangered short-snouted seahorses are because there is little data known, particularly in the UK, so every scrap of information is valuable. Now they are protected conservationists are more relaxed about telling the world they are there."

http://www.zsl.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• seahorse
• zsl
• zoological
• society
• of
• london
• thames
• short
• snouted

[Heavennnn86]

fun to watch :)

[LizardLady63201]

they used to sell those at my local petstore

[rosslynrose1]

They are so beautiful and precious. I cant believe that 4 people dislike this, what is there to dislike?

[Kiley710]

Seahorses are so unusual to me. I wonder if there were huge seahorses a long time ago. They remind me of "leviathans".

[fabihanski]

@locouk maybe because the person the descovered them was blind of its the head of it

[Dannychu92]

thats how overlords fly

[micronpcvolumepower]

I love owls....

[coke491]

You can butyou very own seahorse ate wallmart for $2.

[torgny4444]

Seahorses are so fucking G6!

[Davesothoth]

@locouk A sense of humour? Who in their right mind would find that funny? And why are you calling me a "troll", you "goblin"?