A SEAL pup is recovering in a specialist unit after being found at Arbroath Harbour pining next to a dead adult with gunshot wounds.

The discovery of the dead mammal, washed up on the harbour slipway, sparked a police probe yesterday, as it comes during the close season for shooting grey seals.

Police wildlife and environment officer Alan Stewart said last night, “The grey seal is protected just now, and has been since September 1, because they are breeding.

“Whoever has shot it has shot it illegally. The matter is now under police inquiry and we are looking for any assistance to trace whoever is responsible.”

Harbour staff first saw the dead male grey seal late on Monday afternoon and were immediately aware of the little pup close by.

Its plaintive wails as it sat on the water’s edge, close to the dead mammal, moved staff members to an all-out bid to catch it and give it a fighting chance of survival.

“It was pitiful to hear it crying the way it was,” said a member of staff. “That was why we were determined to get hold of it. We thought it was going to die.”

Their efforts were initially frustrated by the pup’s instinct to slip into the water each time they made an approach.

“A couple of hours passed before we managed to nip in between it and the water to prevent it heading back in,” the staff member explained.

The call went out to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, whose medic Bob Pert went to the harbour to tend to the pup, which had been put in a holding tank.

He took it home to assess it before colleague Alan Muir helped him transport it to the SSPCA’s Middlebank Centre, near Inverkeithing, Fife, that night.

Elaine Roft, the organisation’s co-ordinator for the Montrose and Arbroath areas, said the semi-weaned pup had good body condition, weighed 21kgs, and was thought to be about three weeks old.

“We are holding out all hope for the pup, which is in the best possible place,” she explained.

“Middlebank has a seal rehabilitation unit and full credit goes to them and all that they do.”

Ms Roft and marine life rescue medic Jacque Watt went to the harbour yesterday to examine the body of the adult male.

Police scenes-of-crime officers were also there to photograph it, as part of the unfolding investigation.

It is thought the seal had been shot north of the town. Anyone with information is asked to contact Mr Stewart on 01738 892650.