Tourists have been warned not to ‘harass’ seals after video emerged of a colony stampeding in panic when onlookers got too close and tried to take pictures of them.
Footage was taken on a beach in Aberdeenshire during the mating season when it is illegal to harass the animals.
However tourists at Ythan Estuary on the Forvie Nature Reserve were caught sneaking up on seals causing hundreds to dash for the water.
Stampedes can result in youngsters being crushed or abandoned.
Tourists have been warned about taking pictures of seals in Ythan Estuary on the Forvie Nature Reserve during the mating season
People visiting the estuary on Forvie National Nature Reserve (NNR) have been observed getting far too close to seals on the beach
Earlier this year Holyrood’s environment committee made it an offence to harass the mammals, some of whom may be on the shore giving birth.
Despite punishments of up to six months in jail or a fine up to £5,000, many tourists are flouting the rules.
Posting on their official Facebook page on Tuesday, Ythan Seal Watch Team, wrote: ‘First weekend of a designated seal haul-out and there are already visitors causing stampedes.
‘We film EVERYTHING at the beach the seals are on.
‘Claiming to not have read signs or choosing to ignore them is no longer an excuse for doing this.
‘The designation covers it through reckless actions. It’s now a wildlife crime. There were lots of visitors arriving at the reserve car park and not even reading signs. We HIGHLY recommend visitors do.
‘The visitors in the pictures caused stampedes entering the beach or hanging around it. We also have the video for these images.
‘It has taken a long time for these laws to come into effect and they are there for a reason. To protect the haul-out, not benefit the visitors to the reserve. The fact the beach has a fence or it is accessible makes no difference.
‘Standing on top of the sand dune at the back of the haul-out has also caused issues with disturbance and that will also be reported. The designation protects the seals no matter what.
When tourists get too close seals can stampede causing youngsters to get crushed or abandoned
They added: ‘This is now a designated seal haul-out. Marine Scotland passed this on May 4.
‘Harassment and disturbance leading to stampedes, weather it is reckless or intentional is now an offence. Anyone carrying out tours on the zone would risk exactly that.
‘There are signs to advise the visitors of this and they are being ignored.
‘We were on the beach behind the haul-out last year trying to prevent this until it came into effect.
‘There were five white coat pups rescued from the reserve last year who were abandoned by their mothers following people disturbing the haul-out taking pictures.’
It is now a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly harass the seals within the designated site
Disgusted animal lovers have taken to the group’s Facebook page to share their anger at the footage.
Hazel Taylor wrote: ‘If there’s one thing worse than people, it’s stupid people.
‘There should be a licence to eradicate these people as, it seems, they just cannot be educated.’
Rhona Ramsay said: ‘Utter blithering idiots.’
The site, home to an around 3,000 seals, was protected by a small team of volunteers until March this year when the Scottish Government backed plans to make it a designated seal haul-out zone.
It is now a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly harass the seals within the designated site.
Earlier this year Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) also released a warning to the public telling them not to bother the seals.
Annabel Drysdale, SNH’s Forvie NNR manager, said: ‘We all love to watch wildlife, but we also need to protect it. So we’d ask people to go to the beach at Newburgh, where you can getter a better view without accidentally disturbing the seals.
‘If you are visiting Forvie and come across seals on the beach, stay at least 150 metres away and if one or two heads come up, that means you’re close enough.’