WALKERS and visitors to a beauty spot on the Furness coast are being asked to report sightings of dead seals or other animals to a UK investigation project.
The message comes after the remains of a large seal were sighted by a dog walker on Walney Beach on Tuesday morning.
Sarah Dalrymple, reserve officer at South Walney Nature Reserve - the home of Cumbria's only grey seal colony - explained there were a number of reasons that may cause dead creatures to wash up on the shoreline.
"It’s not unusual to see dead seals wash up on the beach," she said.
"They live for 25 to 30 years and there are a lot of them about.
"Possible causes of death include old age, plastic pollution, starvation, injuries, boat strike, toxins or predation."
Anyone who spots a dead seal, porpoise, dolphin and whale is asked to report them to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme at www.ukstrandings.org
READ MORE: Washed up seal remains discovered by walker on Walney beach
READ MORE: Warning after discovery of dead seal
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