An aerial survey has revealed that around 1,313 grey seals are present at 58 separate sites in Wales.

The aerial survey, commissioned by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Natural England, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), found that 70 per cent of the seals were along the North Wales coastline.

Seals are a common site along the North Wales coast, with hotspots including the Great Orme and Penrhyn Bay.

Dr Thomas Stringell, a lead specialist advisor on marine species at NRW, said: "The results from the aerial photographs and counts are now being further analysed by experts on seals and we are hopeful it will lead to a much better understanding of the population of seals we have in Wales."

The survey was part of a larger study assessing the seal populations in Wales and south-west England.

It was conducted by the Sea Mammal Research Unit.

The survey was carried out over three days in August last year.

Seals were counted and photographed during low tide when they generally haul out on the shore.

The survey estimated that only about 25 per cent of the seals would be on shore at that time, which suggests a total population of at least 5,300 grey seals.

Dr Stringell explained: "There is limited information on the grey seal population in many parts of Wales, especially outside of pupping time.

“Although there is information from pup counts from some of the larger breeding colonies in Wales, there is sparse information for many seal haul-out sites in Wales."

Dr Dave Thompson, a seal biologist in the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews, said: "The coasts of Wales are notoriously difficult to survey for seals and are not usually covered in our regular nationwide aerial surveys, so there is very little historical haul-out data from Wales.

"This survey will help us to build a picture of seal abundance across Wales and south-west England."

Grey seals are primarily found at sea, returning to land only to rest, moult, and pup.

They mainly feed on fish and can often be seen on rocky and sandy beaches.

While grey seals make up about 4 per cent of the UK breeding population, the majority of the seals in Wales are along the North Wales coast, with the remaining 30 per cent along the Pembrokeshire coastline.

Grey seal pups are born in autumn and stay on land until they have lost their white coats and trebled their body weight.