THE Calf of Man has turned into a "seal nursery" following reports that eight seal pups have been born on the small island.

The Manx Wildlife Trust, who is carrying out a monitoring programme on the seals, said it was a "good, healthy start" to the season.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "Grey seals spend most of their time at sea but females give birth to their white, fluffy pups on land.

"This gives us a wonderful opportunity to count the number of pups that are born, observe their behaviour and identify the adults that turn this small islet into a seal nursery for the next couple of months."

Last year 37 seal pups were born in total around the Isle of Man. Most are born on the Calf of Man although some are born on beaches around the Island.

The spokesperson continued: "We haven't yet had the chance to see whether any of these new mothers have been seen round the island before but there are several characters from previous years that we are hoping to see again.

"It is usual for females to go back to the same place every year to give birth and even return to the beach they themselves were born on."

Although seal pups look harmless they can be aggressive so members of the public have been warned not to approach them. It is not unusual for a mother to leave its pup alone on the beach and says the public should not be alarmed if this appears to be the case.

A mother will abandon her pup if it has been unduly disturbed so dog owners have also been asked to keep their dogs under control.

If you are concerned that a seal pup has been abandoned or is injured you should contact the MSPCA on 01624 851672.