SEAL pups could be left stranded on Britain's coastline in record numbers if bad weather hits in the coming months, the RSPCA has warned.
The animal welfare charity said its resources are stretched and an increased intake in pups "would start to cause real problems" for its centres. There are currently 65 seals of varying ages in RSPCA care.
The RSPCA said: "We're expecting there to be problems down the line as we'll start to fill up."
The grey seal pupping season starts from October, and the RSCPA expects that they will have to care for orphaned pups "any time now". In the past, bad weather has put the charity under strain after collecting pups.
The pups, which are mainly under a year and juveniles, get into trouble during periods of bad weather and become separated from their mothers.
They feed on their mothers' milk and rely heavily on this to build up their fat reserves, and cannot survive during the early stages of life without this because they are still unable to swim.
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