About our Thames conservation work
Did you know there are seals in the River Thames?
The Thames ebbs and flows through the heart of London and is not only a busy urban waterway, but is also home to a fascinating and often unexpected array of wildlife, from seals to eels. Declared ‘biologically dead’ in the 1950s, subsequent changes in effluent sewage treatment have substantially improved water quality and, as a result, biodiversity.
Since 2004, ZSL has been working tirelessly with partners and volunteers to drastically improve the ecology and biodiversity of the Thames estuary and the wider river catchment, and to protect and better understand the species that are found here, including invasive non-native species.
Get involved
You can get actively involved in our conservation work, whether it be reporting your sightings of marine mammals like seals and dolphins, or volunteering as a citizen scientist and joining our survey work throughout the Thames river basin.
You can also help us to protect marine biodiversity by using a refillable bottle to reduce plastic pollution - take the #OneLess pledge today!
Get actively involved in our Thames conservation work and help us to protect wildlife on our doorstep.