Record 563 Gray Seals Counted at South Walney Sanctuary

Gray seal numbers at South Walney Sanctuary are continuing to rise, with a record 563 seals recorded in December 2024.

Gray seal numbers reach new record

The previous record was 518 seals in 2021, followed by 483 in 2019 and 360 in 2018.

Gray seals began breeding at South Walney in 2015, and pups have been recorded every year since.

“This is the result of a concerted and ongoing effort to minimize disruption to the seal colony,” Chern said.

“We are working hard to make our beaches safe so seals can come back here to breed.”

How to watch the seals safely

Although there is no public access to the South Walney removal area, seals can be viewed from a safe distance from three hides around the site.

A new hide at Groin is currently under construction and will include a telescope.

The trust is asking visitors to take care not to disturb seal colonies and to stay at least 100 metres (328 feet) away at all times.

“You can see the seals from a safe distance with binoculars, so you don’t have to get too close,” Chern said.

“You can tell if you get too close because the seals will look at you and start moving nervously.

“If something like this happens, you should immediately begin to retreat quietly to avoid further disruption.”

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