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The Seal Whisperer

Northumberland GP Ben Burville has struck up a unique relationship with the Farne Islands grey seals. He takes us under the waves to share the secrets of these beautiful creatures.

Witness magical scenes in a documentary that explores Ben Burville’s extraordinary relationship with the seals of the Farne Islands. By day, this busy GP is hard at work seeing patients in the coastal town of Amble, Northumberland. In his spare time, he takes us beneath the waves to spend time with seals. They trust him so much, some even shake hands (flippers) and others give him a cuddle. Ben shares his feelings of the importance of being able to spend time in the ocean with the seals.

Through many years watching the seals, he has built a unique rapport with them and become a leading seal expert, linked to Newcastle University. Some of the unique behaviours he has filmed include how males use sound, clapping their flippers together to warn off other males during courtship. Other remarkable scenes include seals taking a nap underwater and scooting along the seabed on their backs. Exactly why seals do this is still a mystery.

Filmed over six months, the film includes moving scenes of a young seal pup being rescued by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team after violent winter storms strand it on a Northumberland beach. And, as spring comes to the Farne Islands, Ben witnesses a spectacular transformation as puffins court and tens of thousands of seabirds return to the islands to breed.

9 months left to watch

29 minutes

Signed Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Expert Ben Burville
Executive Producer Sarah Cunliffe
Director Nathalie Grace
Production Company Big Wave Productions Limited

Broadcasts