I'm currently studying the seals at Donna Nook, I've been at the colony for the last 3 weeks and will be there for 2 more. I am familiar with this particular dead pup on the outer colony, its been there about a week and its a popular subject for the photographers. It is a nice shot.
Unfortunatly I cannot agree that this shot reflects the harshness of nature taking its toll, as this is one of many pups on the outer colony that have died due to interference form photographers. The pup mortality on this area is much higher than any other area in the donna nook colony, and the national trust warden (whom I work with) and I am both saddened and frustrated by this growing problem.
I am sure that photographers visiting the outer colony at the weekends do not mean to harm the seals there but many go far too close, scaring the mothers off pups so they can take close ups of them.
Just this weekend I watched three photographers with a very young pup, no more than 3 days old, taking close ups having driven off the mother, who was hovering about 10 meters away. The temperature was below freezing that day and a pup that young has no protective blubber layer to insulate it. They also must feed very regularly to survive their first few days and the photographers where preventing it from doing that. Mothers will also abandon young pups if they smell of people or if they haven't had time to bond with them. I am almost certain that when I go back to the site again on saturday it will be dead, like many others I have seen endure this treatment.
It is soul destroying to have to study these animals and watch them be treated this way. I am now very reluctant to ask photographers to give pups space because most ignore me (because I am fairly young) or are rude, no matter how politely I approach them. The wildlife trust also does not have the staff to warden the outer colony site at the weekends, they get about 5000 people per day on the national trust site that is fenced. They have to rely on photogrpaher's 'doing the right thing' or policing each other, stopping intrusive individuals when they are seen.
If you are going to donna nook to photograph the seals please do not try to get clsoe ups of pups without a zoom lens, I know that people will probably not like this post or be offended that I am saying this but it is such a terrible shame that, at donna nook at least, photographers are killing the very animals they are taking pictures of. If you do see anyone doing this please say something as the person may not be aware that they are condeming the pup to death.
P.S. the weather this weekend (6th dec) is meant to be good. It is very cold though, minus 5 the when I was surveying yesterday and so camera batteries die or stop working very quickly, so bring plenty of spares and have them in a pocket next to your skin to keep them warm.
I'm currently studying the seals at Donna Nook, I've been at the colony for the last 3 weeks and will be there for 2 more. I am familiar with this particular dead pup on the outer colony, its been there about a week and its a popular subject for the photographers. It is a nice shot.
Unfortunatly I cannot agree that this shot reflects the harshness of nature taking its toll, as this is one of many pups on the outer colony that have died due to interference form photographers. The pup mortality on this area is much higher than any other area in the donna nook colony, and the national trust warden (whom I work with) and I am both saddened and frustrated by this growing problem.
I am sure that photographers visiting the outer colony at the weekends do not mean to harm the seals there but many go far too close, scaring the mothers off pups so they can take close ups of them.
Just this weekend I watched three photographers with a very young pup, no more than 3 days old, taking close ups having driven off the mother, who was hovering about 10 meters away. The temperature was below freezing that day and a pup that young has no protective blubber layer to insulate it. They also must feed very regularly to survive their first few days and the photographers where preventing it from doing that. Mothers will also abandon young pups if they smell of people or if they haven't had time to bond with them. I am almost certain that when I go back to the site again on saturday it will be dead, like many others I have seen endure this treatment.
It is soul destroying to have to study these animals and watch them be treated this way. I am now very reluctant to ask photographers to give pups space because most ignore me (because I am fairly young) or are rude, no matter how politely I approach them. The wildlife trust also does not have the staff to warden the outer colony site at the weekends, they get about 5000 people per day on the national trust site that is fenced. They have to rely on photogrpaher's 'doing the right thing' or policing each other, stopping intrusive individuals when they are seen.
If you are going to donna nook to photograph the seals please do not try to get clsoe ups of pups without a zoom lens, I know that people will probably not like this post or be offended that I am saying this but it is such a terrible shame that, at donna nook at least, photographers are killing the very animals they are taking pictures of. If you do see anyone doing this please say something as the person may not be aware that they are condeming the pup to death.
P.S. the weather this weekend (6th dec) is meant to be good. It is very cold though, minus 5 the when I was surveying yesterday and so camera batteries die or stop working very quickly, so bring plenty of spares and have them in a pocket next to your skin to keep them warm.
Shadow and Flame, that was an excellent post highlighting the dangers of mass invasion and the shameful disrespect a minority of photographers show. Donna Nook isn't the only place it's happening though, the puffin colony in Pembrokshire has been a 'target' of late, with one reported incident of a photographer standing between a puffin and it's burrow just so he could get the right background.
It is really sickening, and I think as a collective, we should be questioning those who do this.