London has got the seals' seal of approval

London's been invaded by a whole host of critters in the past few years – from super ants to giant rats – but none have been as totally adorable as our latest residents. It turns out the Thames is home to a whole host of large marine mammals.

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has records of 2,732 animals spotted in the river over the past ten years. The public have reported 245 porpoises, 12 dolphins and 49 whales. But the real captains of our waters are seals, of which there have been more than 700 sightings in the last ten years.

Richard Spink

They've mainly been spotted around Canary Wharf (#business) but have even made it all the way to Teddington and Hampton Court Palace. Scientists have also been studying the behaviour of the seals in the Thames Estuary and estimate there are about 670 harbour seals hanging out around there. 

The animal sightings mark a massive turn-around for London's waters – the Thames was declared 'biologically extinct' just a few years ago.  

You can report any seals you spot using the hashtag #inthethames and there's a map of all the animal action here.