A charity is urging the public to give seals in the River Thames space, as sightings of the animals increase. Thames Seal Watch highlights that getting too close can be harmful to both the seals and people.
Emma Kelly from the charity stated that seals can bite and transmit zoonotic diseases. She added that approaching the animals can cause them distress and stress, which could result in their death.
More seals are reportedly travelling further up the river, with one spotted as far west as Windsor. There are thought to be around 3,500 seals in the Thames, mostly residing around the estuary east of London.
UK Seal Alliance launched a campaign in May, calling for legal protection for grey and harbour seals. The campaign warns that public disturbance, animals, and drones can have long-lasting health consequences for seals, including pup abandonment and injuries from panic fleeing.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) noted that current legislative protections make it an offence to take, injure, capture, or kill a seal.