Scientists are attempting their first ever survey of the number of seal pups around the Thames Estuary.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has led an annual count of the seal population in the area since 2013, but this year they will be specifically looking at pups for the first time.
“Last year, we estimated populations of 1,104 harbour seals and 2,406 grey seals across the Estuary – an increase of 14% and 19% respectively against 2016’s figures. These positive findings support the idea that today’s Thames is not the same polluted, biologically dead ‘open sewer’ it was in the 1950s, but is in fact thriving with wildlife once again.”
It will also attempt to gauge the impact of threats to the animals including plastic pollution.
