Seahorses discovered in Thames

11:58am Tuesday 15th April 2008

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SEAHORSES have been discovered in the Thames, conservationists have revealed.

A team from conservation charity the Zoological Society of London found the short-snouted seahorses during routine surveys of the river.

The society says the creatures' presence in the Thames estuary shows water quality is improving, but warns any disturbance to their habitats could be disastrous.

Short-snouted seahorses are now protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the society is conducting a study into how they are affected by climate change.

Society marine and freshwater conservation programme manager Alison Shaw said: "This shows the Thames is becoming a sustainable biodiverse habitat for aquatic life."