Seal pup almost drowns trapped in lobster pot

A seal pup trapped in a lobster pot on an Island in the Forth almost drowned after it took an hour to free itself as the tide came in. Visitors and staff watched in "horror" as the live footage was beamed into the Scottish Seabird Centre in East Lothian from CCTV cameras.



The incident on the Isle of May happened on Tuesday. Environmentalists are now warning of the dangers of marine litter and urging people not to pollute the sea. The seal pup has now been called Houdini by staff at the centre.

The mother stayed by its side throughout, even as the waves crashed in around the pair. The seal pup managed to escape, however, it is now not known if it is still alive as later a young seal pup was seen dead next to the rubbish.


YouTube link.

Paul Nixon, of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: "Seal season is a fantastic time at the centre, with around 70 seal pups now on camera on the Isle of May. The scene was incredibly distressing for our visitors, staff and volunteers as we all watched, willing the pup to escape from drowning."