The seal that didn't take kindly to being photographed: Fearsome set of teeth shows creature isn't always playful

Smile for the camera: A seal attempts to take a bite out of a wildlife photographer's camera in the waters off Farne Islands, Northumberland

These terrifying teeth should be enough to scare off even the bravest wildlife photographer - but those divers who persevere are rewarded with a unique encounter with an adorable group of playful seals.
The stunning set of images of the frolicking marine mammals were captured in British waters by a diver who did well to hang onto his camera when one of the seals attempted to take a bite out it.

No pictures please! At first sight, the animal appears to be far from friendly as its shows off a set of terrifying teeth

The animal appeared to be growling as he showed off his gnarling gnashers to the camera, but within seconds of this hairy introduction it was having a whale of a time splashing around with the underwater visitor.

Say cheese: The scary-looking seal bears its sharp teeth as it snarls at the camera during a hairy introduction with an underwater visitor

Poser: The marine mammal puts away its teeth and shows a more gentle side when it swims up to the lens and peers into the glass

The friendly pair of seals were more than happy to pose for the camera, repeatedly swimming up to the lens, peering into the glass and pawing at photographer Adam Hanlon.
The wonderful pictures were taken in the waters near the Farne Islands, Northumberland, which is a renowned spot for anyone looking to swim side-by-side with seals. Wildlife snapper Adam said: 'The rookery of seals at the Farne Islands is well known as an amazing site for seal interactions.
'There are several thousand seals there, and I've been going to photograph them there for the last 10 years.

Under the sea: Wildlife photographer Alan Hanlon has been taking pictures of the Farne Islands rookery of seals for the last 10 years

Frolicking: The adorable seals touch noses as they play among the seaweed while photographer Alan Hanlon watches on

Intrigued: This wide-eyed seal was keen to find out more about its human visitor and swam up for a closer look

Are you looking at me? The long-whiskered water lover is one of thousands splashing around off the British coastland

'On the first morning of the dive, as we arrived on our boat, the seals that had been lying on the shore all started to rush into the water.
'They then proceeded to swim out and try to splash water onto us in the boat. We knew we were on for a good day!
'The Farnes seals are unique in that they have never been fed, or have any other reason to play with humans, yet they choose to come out and play with visiting divers.
'On this particular trip, I spent two days with the seals, which was really magical. They are so friendly.

'Magical': Alan Hanlon spent two days swimming with the friendly seals and taking pictures of his sea hosts during his latest visit to Farne Islands

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Too late to enter the synchronised swimming? Diver seals friendship with playful pup who can’t help showing off for the camera

By JULIAN GAVAGHAN

Ice to meet you: A playful grey seal comes up close to greet photographer Dr Alex Tattersall in the waters off the Farne Islands in Northumberland

Despite baring razor-sharp teeth and being the UK's largest carnovores , the creatures, which number around 4,000 in around the shores of Farne, are renowned for being friendly to humans.
During Dr Tattersall’s expedition, another diver, Peter Bardsley, had his entire leg hugged by a playful pup.
Although, the animals are also somewhat prone to chewing rubber flippers.
Briton Dr Tattersall said: ‘They are very playful and love nibbling your fins.

The seal deal: The young pup shows off his graceful aqua acrobatics skills in the island waters that are the home to 4,000 other grey seals

‘I’ve never heard of any incidents with them, but sometimes the big bulls will bark at you if they are not happy which produces an extraordinarily powerful noise underwater.
‘Most of the playful ones are the pups. They love yellow fins or gloves.
‘It is without doubt the best underwater interaction with any wild animal that I’ve ever had.’

Colourful character: Swimming along the kelp-strewn seabed, this seal is quite a camera star

There are thought to be between 117,000 to 170,000 grey seals living on Britain’s shores and they live for between 20 and 30 years.
Their numbers have doubled in the last 50 years and marine biologists believe they are still increasing.

Coming up for air: A grey seal rises to the surface as he is surrounded by cliffs of the Farne Islands

The male seals can grow up to 11 feet long with the females a lot smaller at just over six feet.
They can dive up to 230 feet looking for their staple diet of small fish, octopus and lobsters but love playing with divers in the chilly murky waters.
Dive instructor Mr Bardsley, 49, who lives near Penrith in Cumbria, travels to the Farne Islands every year to dive with the seals.

Coming up for air: A grey seal rises to the surface as he is surrounded by cliffs of the Farne Islands

Peter said: ‘I’ve been diving with seals around the UK coast from Scilly isles, West Wales to the Hebrides for years and have found that the Farne islands is exceptionally special.
‘It’s the biggest seal colony, so there’s more chance of seeing them in the water and the North Sea is clearer on this part of the coast.
‘You need to stay still and let the seals come to you. Often they play hide and seek and will sneak up on you from behind and nibble your fins.
‘The first thing you notice is your foot being tugged.’

Coy: A more shy-looking seal seal swims past the diver who is positioned a few feet away on the seabed

Close-up: This seal nuzzles the diver's glove as it happily shows off for the camera

Describing how he got his shots, he added: ‘I was busy photographing lobsters when I first noticed.
‘My fins were left dangling in mid-water while I tried to get the perfect shot of the lobsters under a ledge.
‘The seal pups took advantage of my situation and grabbed onto the fin. I looked around and took the shot whilst the pup hugged my leg.
‘Sometimes the seals mimic you but they wouldn’t play if it wasn’t fun for them, as we’re no threat at all and vice versa.

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Smile and relax! Seal finds a warm spot aboard a dinghy to soak up the sun

By DANIEL MILLER

Sealed with a kip: This sun-loving seal looks the picture of contentment as he enjoys a bask in the sun in Wells, Norfolk

This seal looked the very picture of contentment grinning from ear to ear when it was spotted enjoying a bask in the sun.
The ingenious animal had lifted himself out of the cold water and found a warm spot on an abandoned dinghy close to the shore.
The adorable pictures were captured by amateur photographer Mike Arthur as he enjoyed a stroll along the beach in Wells, Norfolk.
The 67-year-old retired personnel manager, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said the seal caused quite a sensation among walkers on the beach.
He added: 'It was an exceptionally bright and warm day and the seal was simply enjoying it. 'At first people were just walking along the path next to the where the dinghy was and they didn’t even notice him.

Life's a beach: The animal had lifted himself out of the cold water and found a warm spot on an abandoned dinghy close to the shore

What's going on:The adorable animal is woken from his slumber aboard the abandoned dinghy

'I only spotted him because I was looking for boats to photograph.
'I’ve never seen anything like it before. Usually seals can be seen just bobbing along in the water.
'I was only about 10 feet away from him.
'I went for a stroll along the beach and when I came back he was still there.

Curious: The sun-loving animal had gone unnoticed until amateur photographer Mike Arthur spotted him as he enjoyed a stroll along the beach

'By that time there was a huge number of people who had gathered to have a look at him.
'He was there at least an hour and seemed quite unfazed by the attention he was getting.
'In one picture he looks like he’s smiling and in another he’s staring out towards the camera with a look of curiosity.
'I think he was watching us as much as we were watching him.
'Everybody was smiling. It was such a happy scene.'

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Lazing on the river, Sammie the seal soaks up the sun in his very own dinghy

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Relaxing: Sammie the seal takes it easy in his very own dinghy on the river Dart at Gurrow Point at Dittisham, Devon

When it comes to relaxing, you’ve got to do whatever floats your boat.
For Sammie the grey seal, it means soaking up the sun in his very own leisure craft.
He was spotted basking in the dinghy at Dittisham in Devon.
Moored off Gurrow Point at Dittisham in the River Dart, the bright orange craft has become like a swimming pool lounger for the animal as he dozes in the sun while letting the rest of the world drift by. Peter Mackley, who owns the Gurrow Point private estate nearby, saw the seal flopping into the boat and grabbed his camera. ‘It was like a small kid launching himself on to a Lilo,’ he said.
‘He was lolling back like a film star.’

Like a film star: Photographer Peter Mackley said that Sammie launched himself into the boat like a small kid launching himself onto a lilo

Laid back: The seal uses the craft like a lounger to enjoy the sunshine

Sammie is a familiar sight in the Dart and before finding the dinghy, was often seen sunning himself on the shore.

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Perched on the jaws of death: Moment a seal dodges great white shark...

By ANTHONY BOND

Incredible: Tourists in False Bay, South Africa, were left amazed when they saw this 12ft shark emerge from the water to catch a seal. But despite being one of the world's most feared predators, it badly misjudged its attack

They are known for being one of the world's most feared predators.
But as this picture shows, great white sharks do not always get things right when moving in for the kill.
A shocked group of tourists in False Bay, South Africa, were left amazed when they saw this 12ft shark emerge from the water to catch a seal.
But rather than carrying out a swift kill, the shark slightly misjudged its attack which resulted in the poor seal being finely balanced on the nose of the predator.
The amazing scene was captured by South African wildlife photographer Chris Fallows near Seal Island, which is home to an estimated 64,000 seals and a group of great white sharks which hunt them.
A group of tourists with the photographer were left stunned by what they saw.

Mr Fallows said: 'The guests aboard the boat were speechless with some guests even crying after the dramatic spectacle they had witnessed.'
After balancing on the nose of the shark, the seal swiftly dove back under water. Unfortunately the shark gave chase and it is not known if the seal escaped with its life.
The largest great white sharks are known to exceed 20 ft in length and can have a life span of more than 30 years.
As well as seals, they are also known to prey upon a variety of other marine animals including fish and seabirds.

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Horrific images show how ocean debris is maiming and killing seals and sea lions

By ANTHONY BOND

Horrific: The effects of debris on sea lions and seals has been highlighted in a new video by fishing authorities. In this image a dead sea lion can be seen pinned by her flippers in a windsock, which led to her drowning

The devastating effects of debris on sea lions and seals has been highlighted in a video by fishing authorities in Alaska.
Horrific images show the marine animals with their necks tightly bound and cut with bands and fishing nets and others with fishing lures hanging from their mouths.
In one of the more gruesome images a dead sea lion can be seen pinned by her flippers in a windsock, which led to her drowning.


Upsetting: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has released the video to highlight the effects of fishing gear and other debris on marine animals. Here, a fishing lure can be seen trapped on a sea lion

It is thought that many of the animals become trapped in plastic bands when they are young.
But as they get older and grow, the bands slowly cut into their bodies, which can lead to strangulation.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game released the video to highlight the effects of fishing gear and other debris on the animals.

Work to be done: This sea lion has a large red fishing lure trapped in her mouth. Scientists believe they are under-estimating the number of animals which are affected by the problem

Gruesome: This picture shows how a band trapped around a sea lions neck has caused horrific injuries

It revealed that 386 animals had picked up debris.
Plastic packing bands - used to secure boxes - and rubber bands were found to be the most common items which ended up around the necks of the animals.
Metal flasher lures, which are used when fishing for salmon, were the most frequent fishing gear ingested.
Lauri Jemison, a wildlife biologist in the Steller Sea Lion program of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, who took part in the study, told LiveScience:

Painful: A band is wrapped around the body of this seal. It is believed the bands become trapped around the bodies of the young animals which tighten as they grow, possible strangling them

Worrying: A dead seal with a fishing lure trapped in its face. Researchers say sea birds and turtles are also getting injured because of sea debris

'We are certainly underestimating the number of animals entangled.
'We go out every summer here in southeastern Alaska and we try to visit every haul out (where animals come to shore) and rookery (where they breed) at least once.'
Researchers say they could have missed counting some of the animals which didn't come to shore or were not visible in a crowd of sea lions.
The horrific effects of sea debris also affect other marine wildlife, including sea birds and turtles.
As well as the Steller sea lions, northern fur seals also become regularly entangled.

Way forward: Authorities in Alaska are now looking to work with the fishing industry to see how they can lessen the number of injuries and deaths to sea animals through debris

Although the researchers found that they don't swallow as much fishing gear as the Steller sea lion, they do get bands trapped around their necks.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is now looking for funding to work with the fishing industry to help prevent the sea lions and seals from becoming trapped in fishing equipment.
People are also being encouraged to cut loops which are thrown into rubbish bins.



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Are you my new daddy? Orphan baby seal becomes big hit with locals

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Firm friends: The head of S.O.S Rescate Fauna Marina, Richard Tesore, playing with the baby seal

This is a friendly little chap. And the 15-day-old male baby seal has brought delight to locals at a seaside resort in Uruguay.
The orphan, taken in by S.O.S Rescate Fauna Marina, is happy as Larry perched on the shoulders of the organisation’s head, Richard Tesore.

Just a baby: The male seal enjoys being fed milk from the bottle

He drinks milk from the bottle and takes regular trips out into the sea as he is nursed to fitness after losing contact with his mother.
And he doesn’t seem to mind at all as he poses for holidaymakers’ pictures at the resort of Piriapolis, Uruguay.

Smile for the camera: The seal has become used to regular photoshoots with locals

The rescue centre has become a popular attraction just 60 miles down the road from Montevideo and has recently cared for dolphins and baby penguins before releasing them back into the wild.
Bruce Willis lookalike Richard certainly enjoys getting to know the animals – and the affection is clearly mutual.

The seal is being nursed back to fitness after losing contact with his mother


Piggyback: The seal posing for pictures, lives near the seaside resort of Piriapolis, 56 miles east of Montevideo

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Meet the incredible smiling seal! How an intrepid photographer crawled across the ice on his stomach to get these amazing images

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

All smiles: This Harp Seal pup appears to be smiling for the camera at Iles de la Madeleine in East Canada

Why wouldn't he be smiling? This Canadian Harp Seal gets to play all day in the snow and bask in the sunshine. Life for this little guy looks pretty sweet.
And he is not alone in enjoying life in the frozen far-flung corners of our planet.
He is also a little star as he poses wildlife photographer Keren Su in this remarkable snap. Keren shot the enchanting images in the remote Iles de la Madeleine in Eastern Canada. He had to travel by helicopter to the distant area and cross the ice to the seals by crawling on his stomach.
With unpredictable weather and not to mention working with animals the 60-year-old showed incredible patience to capture the seal pup at play.

Go on, tickle my tummy: This Harp Seal rolls over in the Eastern Canada snowy wastelands, he almost looks like he is asking for a belly rub

The lensman has travelled the globe dedicating years to perfecting the ideal picture.
And his most recent work also includes the marvellous Emperor penguin in its natural habitat of Antarctica.
Keren, who lives in Seattle, USA, has even cycled across his native China taking pictures using home-made equipment.

Time for a little nap: Puffed up and sleepy this pup catches forty winks in the Canadian winter sun

During his 24 years as a professional photographer he has compiled an impressive collection of captivating images.
But the father-of-one admitted he felt most at home in freezing temperatures coming face-to-face with the wintry wildlife.
Keren said: 'I love taking pictures in the snow just for the thrill of it. I went to the remote Iles de la Madeleine in East Canada to photograph the Harp Seals but I had to be patient because it's only accessible by helicopter and the weather was unpredictable.

It's all about ME! A young Emperor Penguin takes his cue centre stage from the camera on Show Hill Island in Antartica

'I was only allowed a limited time with the seals and in order to get the pictures I wanted I had to crawl on the ice so the pups wouldn't be afraid of a huge stranger.
'After they had gotten used to my smell I could get closer and closer until my camera was right in front of them.
'When they became relaxed they would behave in the cutest ways imaginable.

How did you lot get up there? A penguin struggles to get up onto the ice at Snow Hill Island in Antarctica

'They are only white for a small window of ten days but they are lovely with huge black eyes and fuzzy white hair.
'They are beautiful doll-like animals. They looked directly at me and I could practically see the question mark above their heads.
'I went to Snow Hill Island in Antarctica to photograph the Emperor Penguins and I spent a lot of time crawling on the snowy ice so that I could see the little penguins face to face.

I'll keep you warm: A penguin keeps her young close in the frozen wastes of Antarctica

'Winter is my favourite season, it's a romantic and poetic time to photograph animals.'
The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species. Like all penguins it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat.

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I'm having you ... for lunch: Awesome display of shark's power as it closes in on seal

By MARY MCCONNELL

Awesome power: The seal fails to escape from the great white shark off the coast of South Africa

In a breathtaking display of power and agility a seal tries to escape from the jaws of a great white shark seconds before it becomes lunch.
Travelling through the water at an incredible speed the tiny cape fur seal is dwarfed by the enormous shark, which is hunting off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa.
The incredible series of images show the constant struggle for survival for the animals that live on Seal Island in False Bay where around 12,000 seal pups are born each November and December.

Ocean battle: The great white shark attempts to grab the seal

Taken over three years by wildlife photographer David Jenkins, these pictures illustrate exactly why great whites are considered one of the world's most precision predators.
David, 39, said: 'I have travelled around many places in the world but this was the most incredible thing I had ever seen - it has to be seen to be believed. It's an awesome display of power and agility. When a shark suddenly explodes out of the water and you see it close up through the lens you get one hell of a shock.'

Lunchtime: The seal fails to escape from the jaws of the great white shark

'At the height of the season there can be between 30 to 50 sharks in the area, although you will be lucky to see more than five,' he added. 'Their hunting success rate is very high - almost 50.
'But the shark is up out of the water and back in less than a second, look the wrong way or blink and all you will see is a splash.'
Freelance photographer David, who also works for the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust in Zimbabwe, first witnessed the sharks breaching in 2009 and quickly became enthralled.

Jaws: This tiny cape fur seal tries to avoid becoming lunch for this great white shark

Shark attack: The seal makes a last ditch attempt to avoid being killed by the great white

Since then he has returned to the same spot year after year studying the interplay between predator and prey.
He said: 'If the shark manages to get the seal straight away then you are just stunned at how quickly it can happen and the power and speed and athletic ability of the shark.
'However, like any other life and death battle in the wild, if the shark misses on the first strike and the interaction between predator and prey can be observed, it is hard not to start cheering for the seal.'

The jaws of defeat: The shark finally gets its kill

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Loneliest seal in the world, shunned by her colony for being ginger, is now the centre of attention at Russian zoo... and loving it

By WILL STEWART



Star attraction: Happy in her new home at the Akvatoria 'dolphinarium' in Russia, ginger seal Nafanya is quickly becoming a hit with tourists



Things are looking up for the little ginger-coloured seal pup whose fate touched the world after being rejected by the rest of its sleek black family.

Left as an outcast, the vulnerable creature was found huddling under a pile of logs on Tyuleniy Island in the far east of Russia.

Photographer Anatoly Strakhov, 61, took heartbreaking pictures of the world's loneliest seal, which would have been unable to survive in the wild.



Heartbreaker: Anatoly Strakhov's shot of the shunned seal melted the hearts of animal lovers worldwide



Two months on and Russians have taken the rare albino seal - who turns out to be female - to their hearts.

Named Nafanya - after a lookalike Soviet cartoon character - the seal was given VIP treatment and has now moved into a plush new home at the country's leading aqauarium.

Nafanya was taken on a 7,890-mile odyssey to the Russian mainland and then by special plane to Adler, near Sochi on the Black Sea coast, where she is rapidly becoming a star attraction.



Yulia Frolova, head of the Akvatoria dolphinarium - Nafanya's new home, said: 'She now has a special enclosure with a pool, and two weeks after her arrival, people are already coming to see her.

And, quickly adapting to life among humans, the seal has her own live webcam so her worldwide fans can follow her - http://www.nafanya-sochi.ru/ - which broadcasts between 7am and 1pm UK time.

Miss Frolova said: 'She has a good appetite, and always seems in a happy mood. She is such an unusual seal with very beautiful bright blue eyes. When she arrived, she was tired after the long flight, but soon picked up her appetite.'



What's in a name? The seal bears a striking resemblance to Nafanya, a Soviet-era cartoon character



Experts at the dolphinarium say Nafanya's eyesight is not as poor as at first feared. Originally thought to be almost blind, it turns out she only has trouble seeing in bright sunlight. And, given her celebrity status, some dark sunglasses may not be a bad idea.

Her keepers say she loves being the centre of attention, and Ms Frolova added: 'She has a playful nature. She loves to play with her toy - a small blue ball.

'But what she likes the most its to play with a fish at feeding time. She will follow it, catch it, put it in her mouth, release it and finally eat it.



Still lonely: Nafanya can't shrug off the title as 'loneliest seal in the world' yet, as she has to be kept in quarantine for a month before joining other seals at the aquarium



source: dailymail

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