Dark Comedy 'How Not to Help a Seal' Highlights Perils of Human Interference

Director LIAKH has teamed up with Irish production company Chaser and Seal Rescue Ireland on a dark comedy that shows, in excruciating detail, how not to behave around seals.

Released just as Ireland’s seal pupping season reaches its peak, the film uses humour to highlight a serious issue: human disturbance is one of the biggest threats to vulnerable seal pups.

Written by Stevie Rowing-Parker and LIAKH, the pair set out to make audiences feel just as uneasy as a seal facing unwanted human contact.

To bring the idea to life, they cast Irish comedian Karl Spain as the seal — minding his own business on an empty Irish beach — until a well-meaning couple, played by comedians Justine Stafford and Jamie Sykes, decide to 'help'. They feed him water, pat his belly, pose for selfies, and eventually roll him back into the sea — an act that, while played for laughs, mirrors the real-world risks of stress, injury, and abandonment for young pups.

LIAKH said, “Some people wonder whether it’s more horrifying to meet a bear or a stranger in the woods. If you’re a seal the answer is two strangers on a beach.”

Stevie Rowing-Parker added, “I often encounter seals while surfing where I live in Cornwall. They approach, have a little nosy then they swim away, making my day. That’s the most interaction humans should have. It should always be up to seals, not us.”

Clara De Brún, marketing and communications manager for Seal Rescue Ireland, said, “Every year, well-meaning members of the public approach seal pups on the beach, not realising the harm it can cause. This film is a fun but vital reminder that keeping your distance can save a seal’s life.”

Shot on location in Wexford, Ireland and produced independently by Chaser, the 90-second short aims to raise awareness across Ireland and beyond.