A stranded seal pup drew crowds to Broughty Ferry on Thursday night.
The animal was first spotted lying injured on the shore shortly after 4.30pm and was finally moved by marine experts at 9pm.
Scottish SPCA employees had initially attended the scene before deciding that specialist staff from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) would be needed.
Rebecca Flynn, 17, was one of the first to spot the seal — and admitted she at first thought the beached animal was a rock.
She said: “My contact lenses are needing updated and I was like ‘is that just a boulder, or is that a seal?’
“I took my niece to the park and came back and it was just lying there.
“I didn’t think it was normal because I’ve never seen a seal here before.
“My mum is 53 and she has never seen a seal here before.”
Marine zoologist Anna Vieira was called to the scene by her 11-year-old nephew Lucas Fonseca.
She said: “Lucas knows that I’m a zoologist and I work at the university, so he phoned me to make sure that something was getting done.
“I knew that something was wrong because you can never get this close to a seal.
“The only time you can get this close is when there is something wrong.”
The mammal was eventually lifted into a large container and taken away for medical treatment.
A spokesperson for the BDLMR said: “Finding a seal on the beach does not mean there is necessarily a problem and they should not be chased back into the sea.
“If you see a seal that may be abandoned, thin or ill, then call 01825 765546.”
