BBC’s ‘seal whisperer’ film criticised by charities

Seal conservationists have warned that a BBC documentary may endanger the lives of the protected animals by encouraging people to have close encounters with them.
The BBC will broadcast The Seal Whisperer this week featuring Ben Burville, a GP, who has spent the last two decades diving with the country’s largest population of grey seals on the Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast.
The Seal Alliance, which is made up of 15 seal rescue charities, has written to the BBC to raise fears that the programme will give viewers a false impression of how to act safety with seals and could lead to injury.
The Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust said: “We understand from the description published by the BBC media centre that it will show a diver shaking hands and cuddling wild seals.
“For some, this may appear ‘cute’ but for a seal this is wasted energy (raised heart and raised breathing rates), a distraction from essential life activities (feeding and sleeping) as well as learning damaging and habituating behaviours that will likely lead to a reduced life expectancy.”
It said the Seal Alliance had written to the BBC expressing concerns about people getting “up close and personal” with seals. “Seals are unpredictable and will turn aggressive should they feel threatened. A sudden hand or body movement can be interpreted as a threat and they will defend themselves by biting.”
In promotional material the BBC describes Burville, 55, from Amble, Northumberland, as having “struck up a unique relationship with the country’s largest population of grey seals” as he “takes us under the waves off the Farne Islands to share the secrets of these beautiful creatures”.
Burville, a visiting marine science researcher at Newcastle University, is one of only a handful of people who study seals underwater and has documented some behaviour for the first time.
He said he was clear in all his videos and the documentary that people should not go near seals when they are hauled out on land, but insists it is different when they are underwater, where they spend 70 per cent of their time.
“They are very different creatures in terms of behaviour on the land and in the water,” he said. “Underwater the seals are 100 per cent in control and I always let the seals come to me and I would never use bait or food to attract them. In some places like Devon and Cornwall they are being fed with fish and that is very dangerous and changes their behaviour.”
Burville said that he had provided photos and videos for the Seal Alliance in the past and they should be careful not to conflate behaviour seen on land and in the water. “Unfortunately what they are saying [about seals interacting underwater] is just not factually accurate because what is actually happening is the seals are engaging in play behaviour,” he said.
Burville said anyone keen to see seals in their natural environment should go to a reputable company offering diving or boat tours. Asked about the risk that some viewers watching his interactions with seals might try to replicate them, he said: “I think that is always a risk with anything but I hope one of the overriding things from the documentary is the conservation of seals.”
The Gower Seal Group said: “We do not and never will endorse anyone to seek encounters with seals. Seals are not cuddly playthings and should never be perceived as such, should you watch this programme.”
A video was released this week showing two walkers causing 250 seals to stampede down two beaches in north Cornwall. The Seal Research Trust said that the incident was the worst in its 25-year history. An investigation found the incident was not malicious but experts said such events could have “serious negative impacts” on seals, including causing stress and injuries.
Sue Sayer, from the Seal Research Trust, said the footage had been released to show people what happened when seals were disturbed and how “they race over boulders … rushing” and wasting energy. “They risk gashing their bellies, catching their claws and having them ripped out, and, for youngsters with no fat to protect them, they can break a rib or a bottom jaw, which can be life-threatening,” she said.
A BBC spokesman said: “The documentary highlights issues that are crucial to the future of the seal population and all interactions are for research, observing seal behaviour and studying seals. The film does not show Ben Burville shaking flippers with seals. In the film, it is made clear that the public should not approach, disturb or touch seals.”
The Seal Whisperer will be shown on BBC1 at 7.30pm on Friday