SSPCA urges people to leave beached seal pups alone

THE Scottish SPCA yesterday urged the public to leave healthy seal pups alone if they come across one on a beach this summer.

The reminder came after a -week-old male common seal was nursed back to life at the charity's Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fife. The baby seal, named Oban, was abandoned and rejected by its mother on an Argyll beach after being moved by people.

Wildlife Rescue Centre Manager Colin Seddon said: "Seal pups look very cute and appealing and well-intentioned people can mistakenly move perfectly healthy pups that are basking on the beach.

"The mother can leave a seal pup unattended for up to five hours while she is out hunting and she may be watching from a distance.

"Anyone picking a pup up will cause distress to the mother and could harm the pup's chances of survival.

"Only the other week a lady spotted a new born common seal lying on a beach at Clachan, Tarbert. Believing something was wrong, she moved it into the water but the next day spotted the seal pup back on the beach in the same spot.

"The pup was extremely weak and by the time our Inspector arrived it had sadly died, most likely because it's mother had rejected it after it was moved."

Anyone finding a sick pup should not pick it up but instead call the animal helpline on 03000 999 999.