Britain holds approximately 40% of the world's grey seal population, and autumn pupping season creates significant individual welfare challenges for pups navigating their first months of life.
Grey seal pup welfare is acutely vulnerable to human disturbance at pupping beaches. A mother disturbed and flushed from the beach may not return to her pup, which faces death from starvation within days. Pups separated from their mothers vococalise persistently and show escalating distress behaviour. Storm events at exposed pupping beaches can wash pups off rocks and separate them from their mothers in high-energy surf. Entanglement injuries cause chronic progressive constriction as seals grow and the entangling material cuts deeper into blubber and muscle. Marine rescue networks have significantly improved outcomes for entangled seals, but prevention through plastic reduction and regulated beach access is the primary welfare tool.