Does nature always heal in the end? London’s River Thames was once so dirty that scientists said it was dead. But now seals, dolphins and porpoises are living there again.
X
Next
How to bring a river back from the dead
Does nature always heal in the end? London's River Thames was once so dirty that scientists said it was dead. But now seals, dolphins and porpoises are living there again.
X
PreviousNext
What's happening?
Seals are returning to the river because the water is cleaner than it used to be. This means there are plenty of fish for them to eat.
The river is no longer dead. In fact, scientists now say that the Thames has a healthy ecosystemA complex network of living things that rely on each other to survive., including two species of shark, short-snouted seahorses and eels. There have even been sightings of dolphins and a beluga whale.
It's not the only good news. Across the UK countryside, some bird species are growing in numbers for the first time in years, mostly thanks to garden bird feeders.
The news about nature is often sad or scary, focusing on the climate crisis or endangered species. At last, we can celebrate some good news.
Find out more
Does nature always heal in the end?
Yes! Look at what happened to the dinosaurs, or during the Ice Age. The Earth has seen lots of disasters, but life still recovered: we are proof of it.
No! Some animals are bouncing back because of humans putting in hard work to protect them. Nature does not magically save itself.
X
Previous
Keywords
Ecosystem - A complex network of living things that rely on each other to survive.
How to bring a river back from the dead
Seal of approval: Scientists used aerial photography to count seal pups. Glossary
Ecosystem - A complex network of living things that rely on each other to survive.