• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News Environment

After deadly dog attack near Thames, coastal visitors urged to give seals space

Female seals are heavily pregnant or pupping during the summer and getting too close can lead to the mammals stampeding on rocks which prove fatal to mothers and pups, while disturbed females may also not build up the fat reserves they need to feed their young properly.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2021-04-02 10:37
in Environment, News
Credit;PA

Credit;PA

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

The public is being urged to give seals space to protect them from disturbance in a campaign launched as people head to the coasts at the Easter weekend.

The Government-backed campaign by the Seal Alliance is warning that getting too close to seals can lead to the injury and death of mothers and pups, even up to several months later.

The calls come as a popular seal known as “Freddie” was put down after being attacked by a dog.

The animal, named after Freddie Mercury because of his crowd-pleasing antics, had been entertaining people near Hammersmith Bridge in Barnes.

Distressing pictures over the weekend showed the young seal being bitten by a dog.

He was taken to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital in Tilbury but has since died, vets said.

Protect

It is urging people to take simple steps to protect seals, including staying well away so they cannot smell, hear or see human observers and using a camera zoom or binoculars to watch wildlife instead.

RelatedPosts

Sweden joins Finland in seeking Nato membership as Russia moves nuclear missiles towards Finnish border

Poll shows Ukraine war means govt should halt plans to repeal human rights act

Brexit bouncer: Govt urged to ‘act fast’ to remedy door staff shortage

Parody of Minister calling for us to get a better job goes viral as it’s too real

People are also urged to keep dogs on a lead when seals might be present, never to feed the marine mammals and take all litter home.

The push to protect seals from human disturbance comes as people are expected to go for walks on coasts and estuaries, take part in water activities or fly drones over the Easter weekend as lockdown measures ease.

  • Keep well away so seals cannot smell, hear or see you
  • Keep dogs on a lead when seals might be present
  • Never feed seals
  • Take all litter home

The Seal Alliance, a coalition of regional marine wildlife groups, is asking people to show special caution as seals have ventured further inshore on beaches and coastlines that have become quieter as a result of lockdown.

The UK is home to an estimated 38% of the world’s grey seal population and around 30% of the European subspecies of common or harbour seals, but both species are showing signs of declines in breeding.

They face threats including climate change, toxic pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with vessels, plastics and other marine debris and human disturbance, experts warn.

Young seals don’t survive

Just 25% of young seals survive to the age of 18 months in a bad year and they are most affected by disturbance, such as people being noisy or startling the young animals, which waste their energy and means they struggle to haul out of the water to rest and digest food.

Seals in the Thames Estuary
Seals are found around the UK’s coasts and estuaries (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Female seals are heavily pregnant or pupping during the summer and getting too close can lead to the mammals stampeding on rocks which prove fatal to mothers and pups, while disturbed females may also not build up the fat reserves they need to feed their young properly.

The “give seals space” campaign includes leaflets and signs for the public and wildlife tour operators with guidance on how to watch seals without disturbing them.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Seals are one of our most iconic marine mammals. They can be found along our coastline around the UK and we must do all that we can to protect them.

Preventable

“Disturbance by members of the public can be detrimental to seals but this is entirely preventable. I would urge everyone to follow the guidance, give seals the space that they need and respect this vulnerable marine species.”

Andy Ottaway, of the Seal Protection Action Group, added:  “Our precious coastal wildlife is coming under increasing human pressure.

“We need to be aware of the harm we can cause by getting too close to our seals and the often tragic consequences when we do.”

Related: Watch – Developers slammed after setting ‘death traps’ for birds using netting to stop them nesting

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Watch: Lib Dems might have won byelection but celebration is cringetastic

Y Not Festival announces stage splits at upgraded venue

Nigel Farage goes full Partridge on Cameo

Manchester United midfielder confident on young stars but can’t reach ‘impossible’ heights of the Class of 92

Ukraine: ‘Prit Patel is winning’ – Amanda Holden slams Home Sec

Get On Up – VOD/DVD Review

Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Thursday 25 February 2021

Pandemic was the ‘chance of a lifetime’ for well-connected VIPs – Jo Maugham

Poyet pays ultimate price

VIDEO – Labour attack “absolute chaos” of Budget fall-out

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.