A grey seal has attacked and killed a common dolphin off the coast of Wales for the first time, marine experts have confirmed. The incident, reported on Newgale beach in Pembrokeshire, is part of a worrying trend of seal attacks on dolphins in UK waters.
Similar attacks have been recorded along the North Devon coast, with two confirmed killings of common dolphins by grey seals in recent months. Experts believe a small group of seals operating in the Bristol Channel may be responsible, though the reason for the behaviour remains unclear.
While grey seals have occasionally preyed on harbour porpoises elsewhere in the UK, this is the first time they have been documented killing the larger and faster common dolphins. The situation is under investigation by Marine Environmental Monitoring in Wales.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: 'It potentially is only a small population of grey seals that can capture and kill common dolphins. It isn't clear why they now see common dolphin as prey, but over the last ten years there has been a huge population increase of common dolphins.'
The rise in attacks has raised concerns about potential risks to humans, as grey seals are known to be aggressive when threatened. Swimmers and water users are advised to maintain a safe distance from seals and report any unusual behaviour to the authorities.
