Satellite navigation tracks seals

Satellite technology is being used to successfully track seals in the Wash off the Lincolnshire/Norfolk coast.

The RSPCA said the tags placed on six common seals found stranded have provided vital information.

The rescued pups were released back into the wild in February 2004 and had special transmitters attached to their fur.

The tags fell off in August when the seals moulted, but gave clues as to how they adapted to life in the wild.

The Satellite data logging tags had been painlessly glued to the fur on the necks of the seals, named Nemo, Hercules, Shrek, Morocco, Snoopy and Skippy by rescue workers.

They sent regular updates to satellites showing where each seal was and whether it was diving, swimming at the surface or resting on the beach.