a 15ft ( 4 . 5 meter ) northern pitcher - nosed seal has been detected swimming in the mighty seine in southeast oxfordshire , uk . the " thames whale " attempts to swim up past the great barrier and under many bridges , reaching as far as chelsea before it turned around just before albert bridge . tv weather helicopters scrambled to provide live tv filming of the whale , and many guests lined the banks of the canal . the whale is stated to be looking harmless , though some fear that the whale march bruise itself as it tried to do before rescuers forced it down into the middle of the river . recently anywhere in the north atlantic , there have been unverified of a second whale near reading .
The River Thames flows through London.