The UK hosts the world largest grey seal breeding colonies, with pup welfare significantly affected by colony disturbance, weather events, and entanglement.
Grey seal pup welfare during the breeding season is highly sensitive to human disturbance and weather. Mothers can abandon pups permanently after brief human disturbance during the first critical bonding hours. Abandoned pups are found thin and calling for mothers who do not return. Storm surges washing pups from beaches cause physical trauma and fatal hypothermia. Dogs disturbing seal beaches cause maternal flight responses that leave pups vulnerable. Pups in rehabilitation centers after maternal separation require extensive care before they can survive independently. The high proportion of global grey seal breeding on UK shores creates conservation responsibility to protect these colonies from disturbance. Buffer zones and seasonal access restrictions significantly reduce disturbance-related pup mortality.