Survey launched into seal cannibalism

October 24, 2021 at 9:00 am

In 2016, Orcadian wildlife photographer and film-maker Raymond Besant filmed, for the first time, seal cannibalism off Copinsay. The bull seal was captured on film eating a pup.(RAYMOND BESANT)

A survey is under way to investigate the phenomenon of grey seal males killing and feeding on marine mammals, such as other grey seals, harbour seals, and harbour porpoises.

Ross Flett, of Orkney Seal Rescue, first saw evidence of grey seals attacking harbour seals in 1994. He thinks this is connected to the declining harbour sea population in Orkney’s waters.

For more information on the survey and this strange behaviour, see this week’s edition of The Orcadian.