Two grey seal pups have been recorded at South Walney Nature Reserve near Barrow, Cumbria, for the 12th year in a row. The Cumbria Wildlife Trust confirmed the sightings at the reserve, which hosts the county's only breeding grey seal colony.
These two pups are the first healthy ones spotted this season during a routine seal count. The trust reported that two pups seen earlier in the summer did not survive.
Last year, a record 14 seal pups were counted at the nature reserve. The highest number of grey seals recorded at South Walney to date was 563 in December 2024, continuing an upward trend in seal counts over recent years.
Grey seals began breeding at South Walney in 2015, with pups recorded every year since. Marine conservation officer Beth Churn stated that these breeding successes are the result of ongoing efforts to minimise disturbance to the colony.
While there is no public access to the seal haul-out site, three hides allow people to view the seals from a safe distance. A new hide at Groyne, which will include a telescope, is currently under construction.