Rescue teams attempt to return an adolescent 18-foot northern bottle-nosed whale to the open seas upon a barge Saturday evening Jan. 21, 2006. The whale, which was found swimming upstream in Londons' River Thames, died during transport after its health took a turn for the worse.
A northern bottle-nosed whale which became trapped up river, is transported down the River Thames on a barge, past HMS Belfast, right, and Tower Bridge, background, in London, Jan. 21, 2006, back to the open sea. The 17-foot-long whale is normally seen in the deep northern Atlantic, diving deeply and traveling in pods and can reach lengths of 26 feet - the size of a traditional red double-decker London bus.
A northern bottle-nosed whale that was stranded in the River Thames is caught near Battersea Bridge London, Saturday Jan. 21 2006. Rescuers later placed the whale inside a flotation system and onto a barge to take it back out to sea. The whale died after its health took a turn for the worse.
Spectators line the bank of the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in London, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, as rescuers attempt to help a northern bottle-nosed whale that had swam up the river. The rescuers later placed the whale inside a flotation system to await the outcome of health checks being carried out on the animal - the first sighted in the river since 1913.
A northern bottle-nosed whale makes its way past Lambeth Bridge on the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in London, Friday Jan. 20, 2006. It was the first time this type of whale has been sighted in the River Thames since the Natural History Museum began recording such sightings in 1913, museum zoologist Richard Sabian said. The whale appears to be injured in the tail area.
This picture issued by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, shows a whale swimming in the River Thames, near the Houses of Parliament, top, in London, Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. Thought to be a pilot whale - which grow to 20-feet long - it was spotted by boaters and sightseers.
This picture issued by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, shows a whale swimming in the River Thames, near Westminster Bridge, top, in London, Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. Thought to be a pilot whale - which grow to 20-feet long - it was spotted by boaters and sightseers.
Edwin Timwell tries to usher a northern bottle-nosed whale away from the tidal shore of the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in central London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006.
Members of the London Fire Brigade River section watch a northern bottle-nosed whale near the tidal shore of the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. Rows of puzzled spectators on the river banks watched the mammal navigate between boats and under bridges, while divers followed its movements, promising to help it if it became stranded.
Edwin Timwell tries to usher a northern bottle-nosed whale away from the tidal shore of the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. Rows of puzzled spectators on the river banks watched the mammal navigate between boats and under bridges, while divers followed its movements, promising to help it if it became stranded.
A northern bottle-nosed whale makes its way past Lambeth Bridge on the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006.
Edwin Timwell tries to scare a Northern bottle-nosed whale from beaching on the banks of the river Thames on Jan. 20, 2006, in London. At birth, bottle-nosed whales are about 9.75 to 11.5 feet in length, while adults are about 23 to 29.5 feet.
A northern bottle-nosed whale, center foreground, makes its way past Lambeth Bridge on the River Thames in London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006.
A northern bottle-nosed whale is urged away from the tidal shore by Edwin Timwell as it makes its way past Lambeth Bridge on the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006.
Hundreds of people watch for a sight of a lone northern bottle-nosed whale as makes its way on the River Thames near Battersea Bridge in London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. As TV stations followed the rare spectacle with live coverage, the mammal wandered into shallow water near the muddy banks of the tidal waterway, and several people jumped into the cold River Thames to coax it away from shore.
A bottle-nosed whale swims up the River Thames on Jan. 20, 2006 in London, England. Rescue operations are underway after concerns where raised that the mammal may become beached and injure itself.
A northern bottle-nosed whale swam up the River Thames in London on Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, passing Parliament and Big Ben, and drawing large crowds of spectators to the banks of the waterway. As TV stations followed the rare spectacle with live coverage, the mammal wandered into shallow water near the muddy banks of the tidal waterway, and several people jumped into the cold river to coax it away from shore.
A northern bottle-nosed whale makes its way past Lambeth Bridge on the River Thames and is watched by boats near Battersea Bridge in London Friday, Jan. 20, 2006.
Londoners look on as a northern bottle-nosed whale swims in the Thames between Albert and Chelsea bridges in London, Friday, Jan. 20 2006. As TV stations followed the rare spectacle with live coverage, the mammal wandered into shallow water near the muddy banks of the tidal waterway, and several people jumped into the cold River Thames to coax it away from shore.