A WILDLIFE rehabilitation centre in Somerset has welcomed the first seal pups of the season as more arrivals come through the doors for life-saving care.
RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre, southeast of Taunton, has already seen four seal pups arrive in need of urgent care.
Mini Milk, Calippo, Nobbly Bobbly and Cornetto all arrived after they became orphaned following the recent stormy weather.
All this season’s seals have been named after different ice creams by the staff caring for them. Each year the centre staff pick a theme for names, previous naming seals after cartoon characters, herbs, and mythical creatures.
Kayla Terry, Centre Manager at RSPCA West Hatch, said the seals have been receiving around-the-clock care and have improved considerably - but have a little way to go before they are ready to go back into the wild.
The seals are just the first of many seals that will be admitted to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre this ‘seal pup season’ - which typically runs from September to March.
The charity’s wildlife rehabilitation team helps the seals build up the strength they need to be fit enough to be released back into the wild.
The seals are initially brought to the centre’s intensive care pens before they are moved into a pool when they gain weight and begin self-feeding as they get ready for release.
Each seal pup rehabilitated at RSPCA West Hatch can remain in care at the centre for a number of months and during this time the centre will be spending on average £1,400 a week on fish and veterinary care during seal season.
Meet the seals
Calippo
Calippo was picked up from the beach in Milford Haven by RSPCA rescuers due to being very skinny. Once admitted, he was found to have a swollen, infected flipper and weighed only 10kg - the birth weight of a Grey seal pup is 13kg!
Calippo was immediately placed under a heat lamp, given fluids once warmed up and was prescribed antibiotics by the animal rescue centre’s senior clinician. He continued to receive fluids for the next 24 hours until stabilised, before progressing onto fish soup!
Mini Milk
Male grey seal pup Mini Milk arrived at the centre after being rescued from Abercastle Beach in Dyfed, Wales. The moulted pup was at the same location at the high tide line for two days and was underweight and dehydrated. He also had various puncture wounds. Nobbly Bobbly loves sleeping underwater in his cubicle when it is full of water.
Male grey seal pup Nobbly Bobbly arrived at the centre after being separated from his mum in recent storms. He was found in Dartmouth, Devon with a healing wound on his back flipper and weighed 30.7kg. Mini Milk arrived unweaned so he is currently being tube-fed, however, staff leave fish in his cubicle to try and encourage him to start eating for himself.
Cornetto
A female grey seal pup named Cornetto arrived at the centre after being rescued from Llangrannog Beach in Ceredigion, Wales. She was found extremely dehydrated, flat and very underweight. Cornetto arrived unweaned but quickly ate fish by herself- albeit rather messily.
The animal welfare charity advises that if members of the public spot a seal on a beach that they observe them from a distance and do not approach them. Seals are wild animals and have a nasty bite. It is also advised they keep dogs on leads on beaches that have seal colonies too.
Kayla added: “It’s important the public never approach seals and keep any dogs well away and on a lead, as these are wild animals and can have a nasty bite.”
If you see a pup whose mother hasn’t returned within 24 hours, is on a busy public beach, or if you think the seal may be sick or injured, please call the RSPCA’s on 0300 1234 999.
There is more information on the RSPCA website about what to do if you see a seal or pup on the beach alone.
The RSPCA’s is celebrating its 200th birthday this year the animal welfare charity wants to inspire one million people to join their movement to improve animals' lives. To find out how you can join their million-strong movement for animals visit www.rspca.org.uk/200.
RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre is open to the public for animal admissions from 8am to 9pm each day. The wildlife phone line is 0300 123 0721 and is open between 8.30am and 9pm each day.
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