Many of you have contacted us asking about the welfare of a lone seal pup on a beach. 

Lots of people enjoying a Boxing Day stroll spotted the seal at Burton Bradstock, with many calling the RSPCA. 

Flora Jamieson encountered the seal while walking along the beach on Wednesday afternoon. 

She said: "We saw another couple who had already stopped and found it. They'd already called the RSPCA. A vet who happened to be walking by had just left after checking it over and he was fine. Seals can bite, so we made a sign telling other passers-by not to touch. 

"The seal seemed perfectly healthy. He was quite content when we saw him, lying around. "

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

CONCERNS: Members of the public were worried about the seal pup at Burton Bradstock Picture: FLORA JAMIESON

Another onlooker said the coastguard was called, as well as the RSPCA, while two women 'stood guard' for two hours until help arrived. 

They said: "[It was to] keep dogs from going up to it and causing it stress. It looked okay and the RSPCA warden was waiting to hear what he should do. The plan, when we left, was to wait until the next day and, if the seal was still there, they would then rescue it back to the RSPCA centre."

The RSPCA has confirmed the charity received multiple calls regarding the seal, and that an officer went down to the beach to check on the seal on Boxing Day and again the day after.

A spokesman for the charity said: “We were contacted by members of the public about the seal and we have been monitoring it.

“We understand it was fine, it was just resting and we had no concerns for his welfare.

“We just wanted to ensure people left it alone and dogs were kept away from it.

“If anyone is concerned, we are happy for them to contact us.”

According to the RSPCA, it is not unusual to see a seal pup by itself. Mothers leave their pups very early on in life when they are weaned at three to four weeks old.

The charity advises that, should you find a seal pup that looks fit and healthy and shows no signs of distress, you should monitor it first from a safe distance for 24 hours; too many seal pups are taken into captivity because people mistakenly think they've been abandoned.

How to tell if a seal pup needs help

According to the RSPCA, seal pups can be separated from their mothers by storms and others may not feed properly for some reason and need help. An easy way to tell if they need help is: 

  • A healthy seal pup looks like a big, stuffed maggot without a neck
  • An unhealthy seal pup looks thin, but not bony, and has a visible neck, like a dog.

If the mother does not return within 24 hours, or you think that the pup is sick or injured, you should keep a safe distance and contact the charity on 0300 1234 999.

VIDEO: HELEN CARLESS