A chilled-out seal has been spotted skinning a huge eel while bobbing about just yards off shore.
The creature seemed oblivious to nearby onlookers as it enjoyed the feast.
It was seen playing with its silvery prey before skinning it clean.
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Eyewitness James Lees had never seen anything like it before.
It happened off Bournemouth beach, Dorset.
“It was so close to the shoreline,” James told Need To Know.
“Seals are rarely seen that close to shore there and it quickly drew attention from people nearby.
“They were just watching it holding and then eating the eel.
“The seal was calmly playing with it, even stripping the skin as it fed.
“It seemed very relaxed and alert to its surroundings.
“And the gulls gathered nearby, hoping for scraps.
“It was a very unusual sight there. I’ve never seen it before in Bournemouth.”
Grey, common and harbour seals do appear regularly off Dorset, but people are urged not to approach them.
Dorset Wildlife Trust said although seals do not have any natural predators in Dorset, they face increasing pressures from environmental and human-based sources.
Climate change is causing more frequent extreme weather events and affecting prey availability and distribution.
People getting too close to seals leads to disturbance, while marine litter poses a risk of entanglement.
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