Ahead of the return of the ever-popular Love Island to our screens, romance seems to be in the air at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.

The Cornwall attraction, renowned for its compassionate animal welfare initiatives, is witnessing its own romantic ventures on Puffin Island.

Guests visiting Puffin Island, home to a host of rescued puffins, will have the opportunity to observe puffins 'graftin' in the hope of securing their perfect partner.

Activities observed include nest building, an important part of puffin courtship, and a leg-shaking dance, demonstrating that romance is certainly flourishing among these adorable avian inhabitants.

Animal care supervisor Megan said: "We have recently been noticing some very 'Love Island-esque' behaviour from our group of rescue puffins here at the sanctuary.

"Our birds are on a mission to find their perfect puffin partners and a few of them are certainly 'putting in the hours'."

Falmouth Packet: Love is in the air!

She added: "Alma and Disa have been displaying their love language by rubbing their beaks together, while Freyja and Thor presenting each other with gifts in a bid to be noticed."

However, not all is tranquil and harmonious on Puffin Island.

Megan reports of a love triangle involving Lundi, Tyr and Odin that's causing a stir: "Lundi seems to have had their head turned by Tyr when they were previously matched with Odin.

"This betrayal has certainly caused a bit of flap within the group."

In contrast to its human counterpart, once a puffin has selected a mate, they generally stay together for life.

This unusual love triangle therefore provides additional interest for visitors.

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary hopes that these interactions, and the undeniable appeal of the puffins, will illustrate the importance of protecting these unique birds and their habitats.

Guests will also be able to learn about puffin conservation efforts and how they can make a personal contribution.

During May half-term break, an array of puffin-themed activities were organised at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, including feeding demonstrations, interactive talks, and an informative 'Puffin Patrol' hunting for clues around the idyllic site.

Tickets for Puffin Island, along with further information about the sanctuary's rescued puffins, can be found via sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org/en/.