BBC documentary features ‘seal whisperer’ Amble GP
As many residents may know, Amble GP Dr. Ben Burville is also a keen seal diver. He is regarded as such an expert at capturing them on film and studying their behaviour, that he’s been dubbed ‘the seal whisperer’. Ben works alongside marine biologists at Newcastle University, and his underwater footage is used by nature programmes worldwide.
Now a documentary about Ben’s fascination and skill swimming with these amazing mammals has been made by the BBC. In the programme, Ben shows us his favourite diving spots off the Farne Islands; a place he dubs the ‘Galapagos of the North’ due to the abundance of marine life there. At the same time, he reflects on the dangers posed by humans to the animals and birds.
If you haven’t already seen the half hour documentary, or you’d like to watch it again, you can find it on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002255f/our-lives-series-8-3-the-seal-whisperer