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A seal has been spotted bathing in the tranquil waters of Peterborough Rowing Lake in Cambridgeshire, an astonishing 30 miles away from its usual coastal habitat. Jen Cowley, a nature
enthusiast, was out for a walk with her family on Friday evening when they spotted the seal. The adult common seal appeared completely at ease, lounging by the water's edge, seemingly
unfazed by the presence of swans and other birdlife nearby. Enthralled by the encounter, the family affectionately named the seal "Bert." Jen, who managed to capture some stunning
photographs of Bert, expressed her surprise at the unusual sighting. She said: "We saw the seal from a distance. It was a shock to see it there by the rowing lake. It was just sitting
there chilling. “It must have come from the sea. It kept yawning – that’s why I got a photo with its mouth open. It wasn’t aggressive. “The swans kept hissing at it, but then they just went
away. It didn’t react to them. I imagine it's just been eating the fish in the lake.” Jen and her family watched Bert for about 40 minutes and noticed the seal seemed to be yawning
frequently. She managed to snap a photo capturing Bert's open mouth. Despite its yawning display, Bert displayed no signs of aggression towards the swans that hissed at it. Instead, the
swans eventually retreated, seemingly unbothered by their unexpected visitor. Jen's concern for Bert's well-being led her to report the sighting to a local sanctuary. However, she
was informed the seal appeared to be in good health and spirits. While it was important to maintain a safe distance from wild animals like seals, the sanctuary assured Jen that Bert seemed
healthy and content. A spokesperson from the RSPCA said: "It is not unusual for seals to find their way into harbours or rivers and they have been known to travel inland quite some
distance. "Seals are strong, powerful wild animals and have a very nasty bite which can cause horrible wounds, which could become infected by the bacteria that live in a seal’s mouth.
“If you see a seal on land, please do not try to encourage them back into the water as seal pups may haul out to rest, or if they're unwell. "Feeding them should also be avoided as
this may do more harm than good. "If you are concerned about them, observe from a distance for at least 24 hours.” _This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up
http://Express.co.uk ’s editorial research. A news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]._