FIVE male seals are being examined for guilty expressions – after their female lodger became a surprise mum.

The finger of suspicion is pointing at one of the five resident males at Scarborough Sea Life Sanctuary after the unexpected arrival of a healthy pup.

Female common seal Tyne was a temporary visitor at the sanctuary last summer after her normal home at the Sea life Centre in Hunstanton, Norfolk, was damaged in storm floods.

She was on contraceptives at the time – but somehow nature found a way to overcome that.

Displays supervisor Lyndsey Crawford said: “She must have found some way of discarding her contraceptive even though it was tucked inside a tasty fish, because it’s clear her pup was conceived around last July, more than two months before she went home.”

Former Scarborough aquarist Natalie Emerson thought Tyne must be ill when she hauled herself out of her Hunstanton pool late in the evening and lay breathing very heavily.

“She had been off her food for a few days and we were concerned about her,” said Natalie.

“We never suspected she was pregnant, but as I watched her anxiously she gave birth right in front of me. I feel really privileged to have witnessed such an amazing and happy event.”

Hunstanton’s solitary male Pendle is only two-years-old and not sexually mature – leaving the only suspects as Scarborough males Bruno, Mando, Bubbles, Ed and Herbie.

“Only a DNA test would solve the mystery,” said Lyndsey, “but since that would only be needed if we planned a breeding programme, it probably won’t be done.”

Meanwhile in Hunstanton Tyne is being a model mum.

“She is suckling her pup regularly, escorting it on swims around the pool and being very protective,” said Natalie. “The other residents are curious, but Tyne won’t let them get too close.”