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Porpoise alive in Manchester Ship Canal

12/05/2006

A 1.5 metre-long porpoise has been spotted in the Manchester Ship Canal, 32 kilometres in land.

It was first seen on Thursday morning near Latchford Lock in Warrington, Cheshire.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue team are monitoring the situation but at present there are no plans to remove the animal unless it becomes endangered.

Admitting that it was rare for a porpoise to be so far up stream, a spokesman for the rescue team said: "When last sighted, the cetacean was around 21 miles inland, close to Latchford Lock in Warrington.

"We are keeping an eye on the situation because there is always a danger it could get trapped in the lock gates or stranded, but so far it seems to be doing fine."

Similar to a dolphin, a porpoise's normal habitat is seawater, but the creature can survive in fresh water for a number of weeks without ill-effect.

In January, a whale was stranded in the Thames River in London.

The whale died after attempts by rescue workers to remove the animal and return it to its natural environment.


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