BOAT-users are being urged to take extra care after a young seal pup believed to have been struck by a propeller blade was washed up on a Bournemouth beach.

After tracing the animal using the identification tag on its flipper, conservation experts found the female grey seal, which was discovered at Hengistbury Head on Monday, was released from a seal rescue centre in Cornwall last month.

The seal, which had been named Sponge Bobby, was thought to be just six months old.

Wildlife photographer and environmental campaigner Steve Trewhella, of UK Coastal Wildlife, said the animal had suffered serious injuries to its face, believed to have been caused by a boat or jet-ski.

Urging people to keep their distance from seals, as well as other sea animals, he added: “They are wonderful creatures – watch them, film them and enjoy the spectacle but you have to respect the fact that they are vulnerable animals.”

Emma Rance, marine conservation officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said the animal had sustained severe head injuries.

She said: “She had suffered a lot of trauma to the head area and we assume that is the reason for her death.

“It’s quite likely she would have been hit by a propeller.

 


 

“We understand that sometimes these accidents can’t be avoided but if boat users are around seals or a flotilla of dolphins or whales all engines should be cut until you can be sure the animals are away from the area."

Staff at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary said they were shocked and saddened to hear of Sponge Bobby's death.

Animal care supervisor Tamara Cooper said they had spent three-and-a-half-months bringing the animal back to health after it was rescued from a beach in North Cornwall in November.

She said: "When she was first rescued they thought she was a boy so they called her Sponge Bob. When we found out she was a girl we changed it to Sponge Bobby.

"She had a cough and some nasty cuts when she was brought in. We always try our best to give them a second chance."

She said Sponge Bobby was fighting fit when she was released last month and staff gave her a little "pep-talk" as they let her go.

She added: "We were very sad to hear what happened but it's amazing that in just a few weeks she had gone from the North Coast of Cornwall, travelled around Land's End and the Lizard and ended up in Bournemouth."