The UK Seal Alliance is urging the government to strengthen legal protections for seals in the River Thames, citing a rise in sightings as the animals venture further upstream. The charity reports that populations are increasingly moving away from the traditional estuary zones east of London, with recent observations reaching as far west as Windsor.
Approximately 3,500 seals currently inhabit the Thames, predominantly residing around the estuary. Among them, harbour seals remain a rare sight, with only an estimated 500 in the river compared to roughly 3,000 grey seals. Gareth Richards of the UK Seal Alliance noted that the animals are highly mobile, capable of swimming between 60 and 80 miles daily in pursuit of abundant fish stocks.
Despite their growing presence, neither grey nor harbour seals are protected from intentional or reckless disturbance under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In response, the UK Seal Alliance launched its “Give Seals Space” campaign in May, advocating for the legal safeguards the species currently lacks.
The campaign highlights that the seals are particularly vulnerable to disruption from people, pets, and drones. Such disturbances can lead to severe consequences, including pup abandonment, energy depletion from constant alertness, and injuries sustained while fleeing in panic.
In response to the campaign, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated that existing legislation already prohibits actions to take, injure, capture, or kill seals. However, campaigners argue that current measures are insufficient to protect the animals from the non-lethal but harmful disturbances they face daily.
It’s amazing seeing seals so far inland! Stronger laws are definitely needed to keep them safe from disturbances.
Defra says existing laws are enough, but surely disturbance counts as harm too? The campaign makes a solid point.
I had no idea there were 3,500 seals in the Thames now. That’s quite an impressive population recovery!