A beluga whale was spotted in the Thames River outside London on Tuesday, officials said. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation group said that beluga whales are identified by distinctive white markings and are typically found farther north. "Beluga whales inhabit cold, Arctic waters off Greenland, Svalbard and in the Barents Sea," the group said in a statement. "There have only been around 20 sightings of beluga whales off the U.K. coast previously, but these have occurred off Northumberland, Northern Ireland and Scotland." The Thames River, one of the longest rivers in England, runs through several major cities and towns, including London, Oxford and Windsor.

Source: CBC News September 25, 2018 21:22 UTC