Hocken - Arrived on 27th October 2007
On Saturday 27th of October 2007 the seal sanctuary received a call from the BDMLR about a seal on the beach at Gwithian. Due to there only being two staff in over the weekend, the Animal Care Team asked whether the BDMLR could go out to the seal pup. At the scene they called the sanctuary to give the report, and we decided to bring the pup back in.
On arrival at the sanctuary, the pup was put into isolation No. 2 and given a clinical assessment. The pup was around 5 weeks old and weighed 19 kilos which is underweight for a pup of this age. The pup also had a few wounds which were cleaned and treated with a course of antibiotics, and also sprayed with antibiotic spray. The pup is doing really well and has been called Hocken.Hocken, the fourth seal pup of the season for 2007/8
Hospital Update: 13th November 2007 - On 9th of November 2007 Hocken along with Mina were moved down to the outside nursery pool No. 1. Hocken was a little quicker at getting the fish that was thrown in to the pool.
The pups' flipper tag number is 006 (yellow).
Hocken in the nursery pool - photo was taken on 24th November 2007 Update: 26th November 2007 - These photos of Hocken were taken on 24th November 2007 in the nursery pool.

Update: 14th December 2007 - Hocken along with Mina, Nessa and Kitto are now in the outside convalescent pool.
Hocken in the nursery pool - photo was taken on 24th November 2007
Hocken in the convalescent pool - photo was taken on 27th December 2007 Update: 31st December 2007 - These photos of Hocken were taken on 27th of December 2007 in the convalescent pool.

Update: 20th January 2008 - Hocken is also ready to be released back into the wild; waiting on the weather.
Hocken in the convalescent pool - photo was taken on 27th December 2007
Seals being released back into the wildUpdate: 8th February 2008 - Hocken was released back into the wild on the 6th February 2008 along with Mina, Kitto and Twister at Gwithian.

Click here to watch the video of the seal release;
this was filmed by Bernard Gendall.
Seals being released back into the wild

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