This super-relaxed seal doesn’t have a care in the world as it appeared to have taken a dinghy for leisurely cruise in the sea – complete with a pair of oars. Karis Hedges was returning from Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, when she was stunned to notice a seal ‘chilling out’ in an inflatable boat.
The quick-thinking 26-year-old started snapping away and captured some ‘lucky shots’ of the marine mammal within a few seconds just as the boat was coming into shore at Martin’s Haven. Photos taken by the full-time photographer show the brazen seal lying on its side peering up towards its onlookers – with an expression that almost says ‘and? Do you have a problem?’.
The large animal, blatantly unbothered by its audience, then closed its eyes to bask in the sun and appeared completely relaxed.
Karis, of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, said: “I was on my way back from Skomer Island and as we came into the harbour area we saw the seal chilling out in the little dingy. I was quite surprised to see the seal. I thought it was really cute that he was just totally unphased by anyone and just chilling out without a care in the world.
“His expression is like ‘and? Do you have a problem?’ Like it was the most normal thing. The boat was coming into shore so it was moving quite quickly, so it was kind of a lucky shot really. I only had a few seconds to catch him.”
(Image: KennedyNews/KarisHedgesPhotography)
Karis has been doing photography since the age of ten and focuses her work on nature and landscapes in Wales. She said that the seal claimed the dinghy that the main boat used to take the crew back to shore and suspects that they probably had to kick out the surprise guest at the end of the day.
She shared the photo taken on her Nikon D7100 online where commenters remarked how hilarious they found it. One said: “Some major chilling going on there. Love it.”
Another remarked: “Ha you got it – great photo – it was so funny to see him wasn’t it? The poor boatmen would have had to get into a very smelly tender at the end of their shift!”
Another said: “Wait…what!!? Amazing!” A fourth remarked: “Award-winning shot that.”