Gray Seals Behind Porpoise Massacres, Scientists Warn
Scientists are urging swimmers in Britain to avoid gray seals, after a recent revelation that the seals are behind the death and mutilation of hundreds of harbor porpoises.
Scientists discovered harbor porpoises beached on the coast of Netherlands, but they had no idea why the porpoises were dying. Some people suspected that fishermen were harming the porpoises. However, a group of scientists that studied the marine mammals for eight years determined the cause of death: gray seals. The carnivorous seals had learned a deadly new trick, and were killing porpoises.
Furthermore, the scientists said that they had no reason to believe gray seals wouldn't turn their deadly selves on humans, sooner or later. Gray seals are much larger than humans, weighing 551 pounds on average, and also larger than harbor porpoises, which average around 55 pounds.
"People go on excursions to swim or dive with gray seals, unaware that these animals can be quite dangerous for human-sized animals. Most people consider them quite cute," said Lineke Begeman, co-author of the study.
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/21022/20141126/north-gray-seals-behind-porpoise-massacres-scientists-warn.htm
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Don't do it.
This summer I was blessed with the sight of a humpback whale out the window and the next day took a swim.
One seal, and then another, popped up. They're cute, the both stared at me and I talked to them like they were puppies (they look kind of like dogs).
My friend, who lives on a boat and sees these things ever day up close warned me to get out of the water anytime there are seals.
I'm going to remember that- not only am I at risk of being mistaken for a seal by a shark, I might be mistaken for a porpoise by a seal!
Wolves and foxes are our brothers on land.
Narwhal and Orca are our brethren in the oceans
