I mean, look at them, they're just the dogs of the ocean! With those big round eyes and perplexed look, they're some real charmers and the urge to go and squish them in a cuddly, warm hug is almost irresistible.

Except, no. They're not dogs.

Because we are a distinct species and have posed a threat to seals for generations, wild seals avoid human contact. Captive seals cannot be compared to their wild counterparts since their living conditions are dictated by a different species – but that's another topic.

Never, ever, ever touch a wild animal. If you don't want to be attacked, don't do it. Every living thing has a natural instinct to defend itself. Wild seals should not be approached.

They are social and playful animals and some of them absolutely love beinh touched, bur remember they are still predators with natural instincts, and their play bites are primarily meant to amuse other seals with thick blubber and a high pain tolerance. If they gave you one of their cute bites, you're probably never to recover from it, not easily so.