The number of seal sightings along the River Thames has been on the rise, leading the charity Thames Seal Watch to ask the public to keep their distance for the safety of both people and the animals. One well-known harbour seal, named Marmalade, was frequently spotted in areas like Greenwich and Rotherhithe in southeast London. She was famous for her bright golden coat. Emma Kelly from Thames Seal Watch explained that seals can bite and carry zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread from animals to humans—which can be uncomfortable if contracted. She also warned that getting too close to the animals can cause them distress and stress, which might even lead to their death. According to the charity, more seals are now traveling further up the Thames, with one even spotted as far west as Windsor. It is estimated that around 3,500 seals live in the Thames, mainly in the estuary east of London. Marmalade was considered rare because there are only about 500 harbour seals in the river, compared to around 3,000 of the more common grey seals. Gareth Richards from the UK Seal Alliance noted that seals are highly mobile, often swimming between 60 and 80 miles each day. He called for additional legal protection for these animals, as neither grey nor harbour seals are currently protected from intentional or reckless disturbance under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In May, the UK Seal Alliance launched its "Give Seals Space" campaign, urging the government to provide legal protection for both species. The campaign highlights that seals are very sensitive to disturbances from people, animals, and even drones. These disturbances can have long-term negative effects on their health, such as mothers abandoning their pups, seals wasting energy by staying alert, and injuries from panicking and fleeing. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated that existing legislation already protects seals, making it illegal to take, injure, capture, or kill them. Marmalade, however, contracted a parasite disease and passed away in May. Volunteers from Thames Seal Watch, including Emma Kelly, gathered at one of her favorite spots near the University of Greenwich for a brief memorial. Flowers were tossed into the river, and a small plaque in her memory was placed. Kelly shared that Marmalade was a special part of the community and helped bring new volunteers to the charity. Attendees at the memorial vowed to continue supporting London's wildlife.