The New Year Seal That Needs Satellite Navigation

Amazing scenes were filmed by a passerby in Cambridgeshire recently, scenes that really do show how rainy the weather has been this winter. As we are all quite aware, 2012 has been one of the strangest years for weather in living memory, and not in a good way. Whether it was the sunny November or the rainy summer, we really didn’t know whether we were coming or going this year, and neither did this seal!

The footage taken below shows a seal trying to climb over flood fencing more than 50 miles inland, having swam up the River Ouse from Norfolk. With all the flooding that has occurred throughout the country, the seal seems to have got a bit confused on it’s whereabouts!

The seal was spotted at the RSPB’s Fen Drayton Lakes reserve, near St Ives in Norfolk. Wildlife workers for the charity remarked that seals can sometimes be spotted inland in the rivers, but not FIFTY MILES inland!

Graham Elliot from the RSPB, said –

It would be the first time this has happened to my knowledge, that one has made its way into the lake. The floods normally come from ground water rather than the river and so if there is one it must have worked its way up in a ditch or something like that. It would be tremendous if one is there. It would be extremely unusual and it would become an attraction to visitors.

It’s amazing how much the weather can effect just us, but also the in built navigational systems of the animals around us! Here’s hoping that little seal managed to back it’s way back to the safety of the sea. If you would like to learn more about the work of the RSPB, check out our dedicated charity page for more information.