SOS logo S.O.S. Update Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Issue 74
12th February 2013

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Rescued Pups Update for 2012/13
The Animal Care Team have had a really busy time since the start of January with the rescue and treatment of 10 seal pups. At the time of writing this, the latest rescued pup is called Fiona, who arrived at the sanctuary on 11th February 2013.
Fiona Bruce, a BBC Presenter, helped to point the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in the right direction for a morning rescue of a pup at Porthkidney beach, St Ives Bay, on 7th February 2013.

The seal pup was taken to the BDMLR´s temporary seal holding facility at St Austell until a pen was available in the hospital at Gweek and she has been named Fiona (photo below).

For the first 2 days the pup was tube fed with liquidised fish, but Fiona soon got a taste for fish, and started to eat whole ones on her own.

On 11th February 2013, the Animal Care team contacted Dave Jarvis (BDMLR) to advise that there was a pen available at the seal sanctuary´s hospital so Fiona was transferred to Gweek later that day for further treatment and rehabilitation.
Fiona Bruce
Buster (photo below), approx. 15 weeks old, was rescued from Prussia Cove (Bessy´s Cove) on 3rd February 2013 with wounds to his flippers & head and also an ulcerated eyes. Upon arrival at the seal sanctuary, the pup weighed 21kgs. He is currently in the main hospital but will be moved to the outside rehabilitation pools soon.
Buster
Kayah (photo below) a 10 weeks old pup was rescued from Treyarnon Bay near Padstow on 2nd February 2013. She was quite small and thin (for her age) but not overly skinny, a tad bit snotty, wheezy, and with a few small minor injuries. Also had ulcerated eyes. Kayah is currently in the main hospital.
Kayah photo was taken by Michelle Robinson
Celine Dion (photo below), an very underweight 10 weeks old pup weighed 18kgs, was found on the beach right behind the surf rescue building at Porthtowan on 1st February 2013. She is currently in the main hospital.    Can you spot the pup?
Celine Dion
Mick Jagger (photo below), a 16 weeks old pup, was rescued from the beach at Hayle (St Ives Bay) on 20th January 2013 by local members of the BDMLR team and the Cornish Seal Group. The pup was suffering from a high temperature, jaw very inflamed, cuts and abrasions. Also lots of mucus and some respiratory discomfort.
Mick Jagger
Iggy (photo below), a 5 weeks old pup, was rescued on 19th January 2013 from the beach at Port Gaverne near Port Issac. The pup was found dehydrated, malnourished, seal pox to flippers and an eye infection. Iggy is currently in the main hospital.
Iggy
Schubert, a 10 weeks old pup, was rescued from Trevone Cove near Padstow on 11th January 2013; as you can see from the photo below, he was slightly underweight with a few injuries.

Schubert has now been moved from the main hospital to the outside pools for his next stage of rehabilitation and to learn how to compete for fish with the other seals.
Schubert
Dizzy (photo below) was approximately 6 weeks old when rescued from Porth Chapel on 5th January 2013, this pup was found to be malnourished, wheezy, high temperature and ulcerated right eye. He is currently in the outside rehabilitation pools.
Dizzy
Frank (photo below) was rescued from Mousehole on 3rd January 2013 and transportation to the seal sanctuary. Upon arrival at the hospital, the pup weighed 18kg and was treated for lung worms. Frank is currently in the convalescent pool.
Frank
Arnold (photo below) was rescued on 3rd January 2013 from Tintagel. Upon arrival, this pup was 10 weeks old, very weak, dehydrated, respiratory infection and passing feathers. Also swollen front left flipper. He has now made a full recovery and is in the convalescent pool.
Arnold
Elvis and Axle are still in the main hospital and being looked after by the wonderful Animal Care Team.
Also Queen, Slash, Bruno Mars, Travis, Dolly, Sting, Bob Marley and Tina Turner are in the outdoor convalescent pool and putting on lots of weight.
Seal Pups Released
Over two days eight pups were released back into the wild.

During the first release on Thursday 7th February 2013 Pixie and Freddie Mercury went back.

The next day (8th February 2013) Beethovan, Led Zepplin, Jessie J, Ringo, Wurzels and Ozzy were loaded onto a trailer and driven to a north coast beach.

On the beach was a group of people waiting to wish them well with their return to the wild.

If you would like to see a great selection of photos that make you feel you were there during the release (taken by Jessica Hirons and Kelly Astley), then click here or on the photo below...
Seal Release
Post Monitoring Release - How Can You Help?
The Sanctuary not only relies on the public to spot injured or abandoned seals but to help with the post monitoring release. If you are out and about the Cornish coastline and you spot a seal, it may be a seal they have released in the past, the Sanctuary would like to know about any of these seals, they need to know it´s location (where you saw the seal), the colour of the tag (each rescue season they use a different colour tag, this year is red tags), the date you saw the seal and the behaviour of the seal.
Please send the details to the Seal Sanctuary via this email address and also to Sue Sayer of the Cornish Seal Group.
If you discover a Pup
.......and it is alone and appears in distress, the actions which you take may mean the difference between life and death for the animal.
DO keep your distance - If the pup has a fluffy white coat it still needs it´s mother. She will only return to feed her pup when she feels it is safe to do so.

DON´T attempt to handle the pup - It is a wild animal, it may bite and can carry infectious diseases. The mother may reject the pup if it is handled.

DON´T attempt to put the pup in the sea - It may be out of the water for a good reason.

DON´T ignore the situation - If the pup is thin, injured or seems unwell (noisy breathing, coughing, runny nose) it probably needs help.

DO tell an appropriate organisation - Telephone the Cornish Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221361 or the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) on 07787 433412.   Be ready to get help when you discover an injured animal.
Seal Pup in the wild

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