Seal Pup at Cooden Beach

IT'S NOT everyday that trip to the beach has a surprise and a rare photo opportunity in store, but a surprise in the shape of a baby seal pup is exactly what ten year old Maisie Chalk discovered on a family outing to Cooden Beach last week.

Maisie and fourteen members of her family made a special trip from their Eastbourne homes to the Cooden Beach Hotel, in order to celebrate her Grandmother Heather's eightieth birthday.

After the celebratory lunch, Maise and her cousins ran off to play on what Maisie's Mum Liz describes as, "a dark and blustery beach", and it was there that they noticed the seal bobbing in the waves.

Maisie couldn't quite believe her eyes. She said: "We've lived in cities for most of our lives so when we saw this head bobbing up and down we were quite excited."

Initially though the seal was reluctant to come ashore and swam off - Maisie believes she knows exactly what spooked him. She said: "With lots of little girls going completely crazy on the beach, I think he was a bit scared"

Some time later, while the rest of the family stayed behind at the hotel, Maisie returned for a quieter walk along the beach with Dad Andrew.

Maisie ran ahead and noticed in the distance what she initially believed was a "huge rock" or "plastic bag" on the beach.

It was only as she got closer that she realised it was the seal, and with camera at the ready the seal was happy to pose in order for Maisie to take a number of shots.

She said: "I spent about five minutes with him but as soon as Daddy came along he ran off and swam back into the sea."

It was an experience that Maisie said she won't forget adding: "It was lovely to be able to see him close up and to take his photograph."

Rachel Vine of the National Sea Sanctuary in Cornwall said that it's not so unusual to see seals around our shores, as the waters around the UK coastline contain around half the worlds population seals, including the Common Seal, the Grey Atlantic and Harbour Seal.

With a good supply of fish in the waters around Bexhill Marina, particularly mackerel, Rachel said it's an attractive location for seals and she believes the pup which Maisie saw was only a few weeks old.

She said: "Seals are very opportunist and if the discover an area with a good source of fish they will stay until they have had their fill before moving on."

She added: "If anyone discovers a seal, and in particular a seal pup, it's advisable to keep your distance, don't try to handle it and don't attempt to put the animal back into the sea as there may be a good reason why it is out of the water. It could be unwell and probably needs help '“ it's important to remember that it is a wild animal - it may bite and can carry infectious diseases."

Rachel said if anyone finds a seal pup alone, and it appears to be in distress, then she urges them to telephone the National Seal Sanctuary on (01326) 221 361, or contact the local division of the RSPCA straight away.

For further information on the National Seal Sanctuary visit the website at: www.sealsanctuary.co.uk