Benny the Beluga Whale facts for kids

Benny is a beluga whale that became famous in the United Kingdom in September 2018. This amazing whale was seen swimming towards London in the Thames Estuary. People kept seeing Benny for many weeks after he was first spotted. Even though he was alone, he seemed healthy. By December 2018, Benny seemed to be living in the estuary, as more sightings happened. His stay even caused a big building project, the Thames Tunnel, to be delayed! Scientists later figured out that Benny left the Thames Estuary in early 2019.

What's a Beluga Whale?

Beluga whales (their scientific name is Delphinapterus leucas) are usually found in cold, Arctic waters. They are known for their white skin and a round head. Belugas are very social animals. They often live in groups called pods. It's quite unusual to find a beluga whale all by itself.

Why Was Benny's Visit Special?

Beluga whales are rarely seen in warmer waters like those around the UK. It's even rarer for one to be seen in the River Thames. The last time a beluga was spotted near the Thames was way back in 1913! So, Benny's visit was a very big deal.

Over the years, other types of whales and dolphins have visited the Thames. One famous visitor was the River Thames whale. This was a young northern bottlenose whale that swam into the Thames in January 2006. Sadly, it got stuck and passed away.

Benny's Journey: Sightings and Monitoring

First Sightings

On September 24, 2018, Benny was first seen by people near Coalhouse Fort in Essex. An expert named Dave Andrews said that Benny was eating near some boats. He didn't move much from that spot. People kept seeing him throughout the day. Everyone started wondering why this beluga whale had come to the Thames Estuary.

Moving Upstream

The next day, September 25, 2018, Benny was seen further inland. He was off the shore at Gravesend in Kent. Animal experts and scientists were worried. They thought Benny might be lost. They feared he could get stuck if he kept swimming west towards London.

But later that day, good news came! The RSPCA (a charity that helps animals) reported that Benny had changed direction. He was now heading east. He seemed to be swimming strongly and finding food normally.

Keeping an Eye on Benny

The RSPCA and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) watched Benny very closely. The Port of London Authority also told boats in the estuary to be careful. They asked them to avoid getting too close to the whale.

On September 28, 2018, Benny was seen a little further upstream again. Experts thought he was just moving around the same area to look for food. BBC News reported that Benny was likely a young adult whale. Medics from the BDMLR said he was acting like a healthy animal. He was diving and coming up for air, which meant he was probably finding food.

Benny Departs

Finally, on May 13, 2019, local experts confirmed that Benny had left the estuary. His visit was a memorable event for everyone in the UK!

See also

• River Thames whale
• Davina the Dolphin, a lone Bottlenose dolphin who lived off the coast of Folkestone & Hythe for about a year and a half from 2006-2007.
• Hvaldimir, a lone Beluga whale found in 2019 near Hammerfest, Norway. He was wearing a camera strap and later lived in the town's harbor.
• 'Moby Dick', a Beluga whale that became famous in Germany in 1966 after being seen in the Lower Rhine river.
• Tama-chan, a male Bearded seal who became a minor celebrity in Japan in 2002 after living in the Tama River in Tokyo.
• Slippery the Sea Lion
• List of individual cetaceans