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Article: Killer whales blamed for seal numbers fall
- Article from:
- The Scotsman
- Article date:
- April 15, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 The Scotsman. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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GROWING numbers of killer whales in Scotland's seas could be to
blame for a sharp decline in seal populations, say researchers.
Scientists have been at a loss to explain why harbour seal
numbers in Orkney and Shetland have plummeted by 40 per cent in the
past ten years.
Now Andrew Foote, zoologist at the University of Aberdeen, has
suggested killer whales, or orcas, could be preying on seal pups in
Scottish seas, particularly during the June and July pupping season.
Surveys in Orkney and Shetland showed there were 12,635 harbour
seals in 2001, but by 2006 numbers had dropped to 7,277.
Mr Foote analysed inshore sightings of killer whales around the
Northern Isles and discovered a clear ...