Donal Hickey: Keep your distance from seals — even the cutest pups

Every year, well-meaning members of the public approach seal pups on the beach, not realising the harm it can cause

With pupping season in full swing along Ireland’s coastline, Seal Rescue Ireland is calling on the public to give seals the space they need in a new short film starring Irish comedy favourites Justine Stafford, Karl Spain, and Jamie Sykes

It’s the season when people walking on beaches are likely to come across seals, so an appeal from Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) is timely — do not disturb them.

With the grey seal pupping season now taking place along the coastline, seals spend a lot of time on the shore. If people get too close, it causes stress, or even injury, and may frighten them into abandoning their pups.