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Fear seal pups may have died

Half of pups born on Calf of Man missing

Almost half the seal pups born on the Calf of Man are feared to have died due to Hurricane Ophelia, the Manx Wildlife Trust fears.

Marine officer Lara Howe said volunteers had recorded 42 births before Monday's storm but only 22 have been accounted for since.

She says the loss of 48 per cent of grey seal pups was the worst since the Trust's annual seal survey began in 2009.

The worst death toll recorded previously was eight pups in 2014.

There are many reports recently of them coming on land, particularly in stormy weather.

Sightings are often in very public places, such as the inner harbour at Port St Mary.

But Marine Officer Lara Howe urges people to stay away:

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