Dwayne Johnson was rescued on 5th September 2023
|
This male common seal pup was about 10-12 weeks old and weighed just 12.1kg. He was found on the 5th of September 2023 from the beach at Harlyn Bay by volunteer marine mammal medics from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
He was found very malnourished with puncture wounds on his rear flippers, plus a cut and swelling on his lower jaw with a high temperature of 38 degrees.
Photos credit (below) : Sam Martinhull - BDMLR
|
He was quickly transferred into the care of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary to undergo rehabilitation and receiving the medication needed, with the aim of returning him back to the wild in the coming months.
The pup has been named "Dwayne Johnson" in line with the Sanctuary´s celebrity theme for the 2023/24 rescue season. Hands up who thinks this common seal pup is cute! Click on the photo below to see a larger version of this image which was taken on the 12th of September 2023 in the hospital.
|
|
Update - 30th September 2023 : How handsome and cute does this seal pup look...Dwayne´s eyes are so appealing! He is currently in the hospital and will remain here for a few weeks until he puts weight on before Dwayne is moved down to the outside the nursery pools. Click here to see larger versions of these photos taken on 28th September 2023.
|
Update - 28th October 2023 : Dwayne is still very cute common seal pup and very popular with the visitors who love watching him in the outside nursery pools.
Dwayne´s flipper ID tag number is SL391 (yellow).
Did you know that common seals are not commonly found in Cornwall. You can find the biggest populations of common seals on the East coast of UK and in Scotland.
These photos below were taken on 27th of October 2023, Click here to see larger versions of these.
|
|
Update - 20th November 2023 : Dwayne has completed his rehabilitation and released back into the wild on the 15th of November 2023.
|
Update - 5th February 2025 : Dwayne Johnson was spotted at haul-outs along the coast of Cornwall on 6th May 2024, 1st June 2024, 1st, 6th, 14th, 26th, 29th & 30th July 2024, 3rd, 4th & 17th August 2024, 7th September 2024 and 4th & 25th December 2024.
Photo Credit : Andy and Kam - Seal Research Trust - 6th July 2024
|
By monitoring the behaviour of seals after release back into the wild, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Seal Research Trust and other organisations can use this information to define the best practice standards and policies that they can share with the international rescue community.
Each seal´s fur pattern is unique and enables the organisations to track them for life.
Seals face many challenges, yet we all depend on them to balance our marine ecosystem, which is essential to make the oxygen we breathe.
Seals are our globally rare wildlife tourist attraction, helping diversify coastal economic prosperity.
|
|
