Grey seals are the largest breeding seal found in the UK. Half of the world's populations of grey seals are found on and around British coasts, and numbers here have doubled since 1960.
Seals in British waters are facing a series of environmental threats, which include drowning in fishing nets, entanglement in discarded rubbish such as plastic bags, and dwindling food resources. Of growing concern are the effects of marine pollution on the health of grey seals, particularly through contaminants and oil from spills. While Canadian seal culls are well known around the world, the fishing industry in the UK and Ireland has called for grey seal culls in the past under the misconception that seals are the reason behind declining fish stocks. There is little scientific evidence to support this claim.
Each year many seal pups fall victim to injury, malnourishment and abandonment. This often leads to them being washed up on beaches around our coast. The fortunate ones are rescued and rehabilitated.
Care for the Wild works with a seal sanctuary in Cornwall to support the rehabilitation of injured and abandoned seal pups back into the wild. By observing the seals during rehabilitation, we are able to gain a greater knowledge of how to care for the Seals. It will also help to improve the facilities and medication available to rescued seals and those who for various reasons, cannot be returned to the wild.
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