Animals

Terrified seals jump off cliffs to flee tourists


Disturbing footage shows the seals fleeing from tourists (Picture: SWNS)

This is the shocking moment a scared seal plummets down a cliff after a tourist gets too close.

In other disturbing footage, a drone sparks a seal stampede, with many injuring themselves as they jump from the rocky ledges.

A dog was also seen trying to chase and bite a helpless seal after it was let off the lead.

The videos have now formed part of a new campaign urging the public to leave them alone.

A sharp rise in the number of incidents like this has led to a report called ‘Do not disturb! The growing threat to our seals’.

The report claims seals are often disturbed by motorised vessels, jet-skis, kayaks, paddle-boarders, wildlife watching tours, as well as anglers and walkers.

People trying to feed seals is also of growing concern.

Wildlife expert Andy Ottaway said seals already face enough threat from habitat issues and over-fishing of the waters, and need to be left alone.

He said: ‘Our seals are under increasing threat from deliberate killing, climate change, over-fishing, toxic pollution, entanglement in nets, ingestion of plastic and serious injury from collisions with vessels.

‘We need to give all our precious marine wildlife, including seals, more space.

‘The cumulative impact of all these threats, along with these growing disturbance issues, is placing these wonderful animals at serious risk.’

As the summer holidays begin, millions of visitors flock to the coast and overcrowding puts even more pressure on marine wildlife.

A dog was also seen trying to chase and bite a helpless seal (Picture: SWNS)
Wildlife experts are warning tourists to stay away from the seals (Picture: SWNS)
People trying to feed seals is also of growing concern (Picture: SWNS)

The report, published by the Seal Protection Action Group, highlights the growing, harmful impact human activity can have on animals such as seals.

It also documents case studies around the British coast where protected seal populations are suffering chronic disturbances from human activities.

Such activities can cause serious injuries and have potentially fatal consequences.

Researchers warn that disturbances from human activities can cause potentially fatal consequences for seals (Picture: SWNS)

Researchers warned this disturbance can reducing breeding success and cause seals to abandon their dependent pups.

Sue Sayer, from the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust, said: ‘Many communities benefit financially from tourism and the kind of reliable wildlife watching that seals provide.

‘However, we need to take care and must reduce already high levels of disturbance, and soon, or those environmental, social and economic benefits could soon disappear along with our seals.’





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