A baby seal was spotted taking a well-deserved rest on Redcar beach this morning.
The unexpected visitor, believed to be only a few weeks old, quickly become the star of the show, attracting a crowd of delighted onlookers.
Local residents were thrilled by the rare sighting.
The pup seemed unfazed by the attention, occasionally glancing up at its admirers with curious eyes.
A volunteer marine mammal medic was quick on the scene to ensure the seal’s safety and wellbeing.
After a thorough check, they confirmed that the pup was healthy and simply taking a break on its journey.
The unnamed volunteer said: “He’s come from Seal Sands, so he is very tired and wanted to come to the shore to simply sleep.
“He’s perfectly healthy but I’ll stay with him until he’s ready to get back into the sea.”
They advised onlookers to keep a respectful distance to avoid causing any stress to the young animal.
“It was such a magical moment,” said Sue Richardson, a Redcar resident who was among the first to spot the seal.
“It’s not every day you get to see such a beautiful creature up close like that.”
Seal pups typically leave their mothers at a very young age, usually between 3 to 4 weeks.
Seal Sands in Hartlepool is a vital, unique breeding site on the Northeast coast for harbour seals, with them being the primary residents.
Originally published on TS10 by Teesside University student Melissa Wade.
I am a student journalist at Teesside University and I am currently the news editor for the TUXtra website. I hope you enjoy my articles and find them informative.
