Photographer Gary Weightman has snapped the first photos of an Atlantic grey seal scavenging on a harbour porpoise in Manx waters.
Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch said the photos were taken at the Point of Ayre on July 26.
The charity said: “Gary had been photographing a large group of seals from a distance with a long zoom and caught this individual on camera eating what could be mistaken for a big fish.
“The images were uploaded to Facebook, where MWDW recognised the tail stock as that of a porpoise and contacted him for further information.
Grey seals feeding on harbour porpoise has been documented throughout the northern hemisphere but evidence within the British Isles is limited.
“Documentation exists of both predation and scavenging. In this circumstance, Gary had been photographing the seals for some time and commented on how peaceful the atmosphere was. There was no sign of chase or attack, suggesting that the porpoise was already dead and the seal had come across the carcass.”
While this is the first sure evidence of a grey seal feeding on a harbour porpoise in Manx waters, back in 2018 MWDW came across the flesh and blubber of a porpoise which appeared indicative of grey seal attack.
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