Seal virus hits Aran Islands
A deadly virus which has killed thousands of seals across Europe has been found in Ireland.
Students at NUI Galway have confirmed it’s existence in the carcass of a harbour seal found on the Aran Islands.
Many more dead seals have been sent away for examination.
Terry Flanagan of the Irish seal sanctuary fears it could wipe out the harbour seals species here, and says nothing can be done to prevent it.
"There is very little we can do. They are migratory animals, they travel long distances up to 100 miles a day. There are at present harbour seals in colonies. If the seals are very sick they can spread it very easily throughout the colony, there just is not a lot we can do," he said.
