Seals at DonnaNook

[TW25]

Shooting seals at DonnaNook may soon come to an end, it has been sugested that amongst other things , photographers taking pictures of baby seals in the dunes is stopping the mothers coming in to feed them, and causing them to die, I think it is time for strict control of visitors to DonnaNook, or we could be banned from seeing this wonderful spectacle for ever.

What do you think?

 

[foggy4ever]

It caused some heated discussions last year on here, I've never been but will hopefully get chance this year. There is some good advice on here somewhere and I hope to meet up with some members who have experience and common sense.

 

[TW25]

I met with some PT members last November at Donna,we walked out to a sand bank where all the seals were, we took pictures in a calm and responsable way, no harm done, but it`s the masses that congregate in the dunes that are aparrently stopping the mothers from coming in to feed the young, maybe no uncontroled visits until the pups can fend for themselves
could be the answer?

 

[lost]

I met with some PT members last November at Donna,we walked out to a sand bank where all the seals were, we took pictures in a calm and responsable way, no harm done, but it`s the masses that congregate in the dunes that are aparrently stopping the mothers from coming in to feed the young, maybe no uncontroled visits until the pups can fend for themselves
could be the answer?

You may want to check your facts it is the sandbanks where the problem is the dunes are fenced and roped off. This has been well reported in the press and on the internet. The latest article on it was in last months Outdoor Photography.
We had a debate on TP last year after our meet there. I photographed a guy stood over a baby seal with a wide angle lens and flashgun i posted this image on the thread at the time i also had a lot more shots of people doing similar things. I have been visiting the sand banks at Donna Nook since 1992
I wrote an article for Outdoor Photography in December 2006 on Donna Nook
and wished i had'nt
The wildlife Trust are asking people not to venture down to the Sandbanks
because of the problems you have mentioned. They cannot stop you Going to the sandbanks but they are the ones left to cope with the abandoned pups. I'm in debate wether i shall go at all this year
For me the well being of the subject comes first but there are a growing minority of people who either don't care or don't think they just want to get the shot. If i do go it probably will be late December or early January after most of the pups have left

On the bright side a few images of happier times

Taken at the Sand Banks



Taken at the Dune Colony



Taken at the Dune Colony



Regards

Richard