Residents are being urged to give visiting seals space when seen resting on our beaches.

In the last few weeks, a juvenile male grey seal has been visiting areas of West Dorset and South Devon and has become the focus of a lot of attention. He needs to rest on land to digest any food he has been able to catch, but he still has to learn what to eat and how to catch it. He began visiting beaches like this during lockdown.

The Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust is reminding people that he needs space and peach to rest properly to get through the riskiest part of his life up to the age of 18 months.

A spokesman said: "Our fascination has led to a lot of interactions with this young male, most of which are bad for him and potentially dangerous for us and our dogs. As a result, a number of seal conservation groups have come together to share information about the best way to help ensure this seal's health wellbeing.

"The Seal Project, Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust and British Divers Marine Life Rescue ask you to please keep well away from him - if he is looking at you, ha has been disturbed."

Having to remain alert wastes the seal's energy as his heart and breathing rates will be high.

Please keep dogs on a lead and remember diseases can be passed between dogs, seals and people, and do not feed him as this will change his behaviour for life, continually bringing him into risky situations with humans.

The spokesman added: "Humanised seals rarely make old bones and become victims of antisocial behaviour, threats of violence, entanglement in angling lines and hooks, and even being hit by boat propellers.

"It is not possible to take a selfie with this young seal without negatively impacting his health and wellbeing, especially as this role models bad behaviour to other copycats.

"Please leave him well alone and give him a wide berth. At the very least he will be stressed, even if not obviously visible. If we don't, we are increasing the chances of injury and death at a young age through energy loss or habituation."

Grey seals are wild predators with big dog-like teeth and communicable diseases. They will suddenly defend themselves if they feel threatened and should not be approached and never touched in any way.

To keep him safe, please do not post his location online and please discourage others from doing so too.

Sue Sayer, from the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust, said: "This young male grey seal desperately needs our help right now.

"Ever since lockdown one he has been watched by a team of amazing volunteers along both the Dorset and South Devon coasts. But he now needs your help. Please give this seal space and time to grow up and become a proper wild seal.

"Young seals like this are trying to survive the riskiest time of their lives. This seal needs us all to be the 'grown up' and do the right thing.

"Thank you for putting him first."

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