A ranger team has issued advice to keep seals safe after one came ashore at a tourist hotspot.

Sightings of a large, male grey seal at Durdle Door Beach were first reported on Wednesday, April 3.

Officers from Wareham Police were called to the scenic beach to cordon off an area to maintain a safe distance between the public and the seal.

Now, the Lulworth and Durdle Door Rangers, a team of countryside rangers who patrol the Lulworth Estate involved in environmental land management and education, have released some advice to keep the public safe.

To keep any seals safe that are ashore, they advise the following:

  • Stay well away and use a camera zoom or binoculars for a better view
  • Keep dogs on a lead
  • Never feed seals
  • Take all litter home

Their final piece of advice was to 'not seek out encounters with seals in the water.' According to the ranger team, this is because seals spend more time out of the water than in it.

A spokesperson for the Lulworth Rangers said: “Seals actually spend more time out of the water than in it. They can travel many miles during the day and will come ashore for a good rest or to digest their food. This is known as ‘hauling out’.”

The grey seal is one of two species which are native around the Dorset coastline. The other species is the common seal.

This is not the first time that a seal has been spotted enjoying itself at a beach in Dorset as in 2022 a grey seal was spotted having a bite to eat at Newton's Cove. 

 If you spot a seal, the team say that you can report your sighting to the Dorset Wildlife Trusts, Dorset Seal Project by visiting their website: https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/conservation-at-sea/dorset-seals