News / Animals
Seal may have chased fish up river then realised Bristol good place to stay
Like countless others, the seal that took up residence in the River Avon over the weekend had come to Bristol on a visit and then decided to stay.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the majority of people moving from London to Bristol used to live in Hackney in east London.
Bristol’s seal is likely to have come from a bit closer – probably the Bristol Channel.
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According to experts from Bristol Zoo – who as well as looking after endangered species from around the world, also work to protect native animals and habitats closer to home – it is just the latest example of wildlife becoming more visible over recent weeks.
Bristol Zoological Society’s UK conservation manager, Jen Nightingale, said: “This appears to be a perfectly healthy, adult grey seal, who may well have come in on a high tide and chased a shoal of fish up river and then realised that this is actually quite a nice spot, with no competition from other seals.
“As people are taking time to go for daily exercise, it’s a lovely opportunity to enjoy our native wildlife, particularly as we have all slowed down so there is less traffic noise and air pollution meaning we hear more birdsong and see more species. There has also been a reduction in pollution entering our rivers and streams.”
Jen said that a number of people had recently been enjoying watching otters in Wells and two harbour porpoises in the River Parrett near Bridgwater.
She added: “Wildlife certainly seems to have become more visible over the past few weeks. It’s a time to really appreciate our local wildlife and enjoy it from a respectful distance.”
Main photo: Gemma Self / Twitter
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