Thrilled conservationists find more than 130 seals born in 'thriving' Thames

Researchers tallied up 138 harbour seals born in the Thames (Picture: PA)

The first Thames seal pup count has revealed more than 130 were born in the river last year.

The Zoological Society of London said this was further evidence that the river, biologically dead 50 years ago, had a “thriving ecosystem”.

The society has carried out annual seal counts along the Thames since 2013, seeing numbers double in five years, with nearly 2,500 grey and more than 1,000 harbour seals calling the river home.

Researchers did not know if numbers were rising as harbour seals were giving birth to pups on the banks of the river, or because of seals migrating.

A seal in the River Thames (PA)

Last year the ZSL launched a breeding survey.

The results, released today, found 138 harbour seal pups were born in the Thames last year.

Harbour seals in the Thames Estuary (PA)

They are the only species able to give birth on the river’s sandbanks as their pups can swim within hours.

The ZSL’s Thea Cox said: “We were thrilled… this demonstrates that the Thames ecosystem is thriving.”