News Update News Update Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Issue 191
September 2021

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The Cornish Seal Sanctuary celebrated the amazing marine animals that are seals #NationalSealDay on 1st September.

At the Sanctuary, they are dedicated to protecting seal pups and raising awareness about how we can all do our bit to help support them. They rehabilitate between 50-70 seal pups every season, and they couldn´t do it without your help.

The #National Seal Day marks the launch of the Sanctuary´s "#PutPupsFirst campaign which is all about supporting seal pups, providing advice and vital information to the public and helping their Sanctuary to continue their work, however after a very difficult few years, they need your help so they can help them.

As well as their work rescuing vulnerable seal pups, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary provides a permanent home to those who cannot be released back to the wild due to medical issues.

Most pups are successfully released, but on occasions, a few require ongoing care and medication for the rest of their lives and their site in Gweek is specially designed to ensure those animals can live a happy, comfortable life with them.

To support the rescued pups this season, please visit - www.justgiving.com/campaign/PutPupsFirst


Happy 32nd Birthday Yulelogs!
Our handsome boy is 32 years old today (10th September)! The team have outdone themselves with his fish cake, look at those layers!

Yulelogs is a firm favourite with both the team and guests.


Donation of a BreathEazy inhaler mask
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary would like to say a huge thank you to James Slater and David Gray for their incredible donation to Tuppence.

Each day the team administer inhaler medication to her, and the Sanctuary were in desperate need of an inhaler mask for her, to make the whole process much easier for her. These two came to the Sanctuary for a "Keeper for the day experience" and then after kindly gifted them the BreathEazy inhaler mask - who were also very generous and gave it to them for cost price.

Thank you James and David for your generosity, you have helped the staff make Tuppence´s daily medication so much nicer for her and are really grateful!

If you´d like to support the animals at the Sanctuary, there is a wishlist which the staff update regularly with items they would love to have for the animals - www.wishlistr.com/cornishsealsanctuary/.


Beaver Nursery
The Sanctuary are very excited to share the incredible news that Norbert has been released into the wild enclosure, with our two girls, Barbara and Twiggy!

The release went well, as you can see he took to his new environment very quickly! Also pleased to update you all that he has also met the girls and their first meeting has gone fantastically!

A huge thank you to everyone that has donated towards our beavers, this is the next exciting step for Norbert and we will keep you all posted on the three of them and their adventures!

Nina Constable, the Sanctuary´s Media Ambassador, has been an integral part in documenting the beavers and supporting the entire project, thank you for joining us for the release Nina and for capturing such a special moment for the Sanctuary to be able to share with all of you.

If you would like to support our rescued beavers and their care, please visit: Donation Page!

Click here
to watch a short video.


On 15th September 2021 the time came to say goodbye to the final four seal pups of the 2020/2021 rescue season! Fajita, Jurgen, Meryasek (aka Merry) and Taco were released from Dollar Cove that morning, making their way back to their home in the sea.

Jurgen was named by the SEA LIFE Trust patrons, John Bishop and Mel Bishop during their visit earlier this year in May. We would like to thank them for their support of Jurgen´s rehabilitation and for sharing his story.

Also like to thank Sophie Cornick and her family for sponsoring Merry, we are so thankful for your support!

It´s always an emotional moment saying goodbye to the pups that have been cared for at the Sanctuary, and so rewarding seeing them head back to the sea, free from their injuries and ailments and now able to thrive and live their lives. Click here to watch a short video of the seal release.
Rescued Seal Pups 2021/22
So just a matter of days after the final pup release of the last season, the Sanctuary had their first rescued pup in for this 2021/22 season! Meet Narwhal, Limpet, Coral and Puffin - this year´s name theme is all things ocean, including all the wonderful animals that inhabit it.
Narwhal (white coat) is a male grey seal pup rescued from Polzeath beach on 22nd September 2021 by members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) marine mammal medics and transported to the Sanctuary. As you can he is quite big, however, he has an injury to his head and rear flippers. Limpet is a male grey seal pup that was rescued from Widemouth Bay on 20th September 2021 by members of the BDMLR and transported to the Sanctuary for rehabilitation. He has a wound on his tail which he is currently on treatment for and he is being monitored by the team.
Narwhal Limpet
Puffin (white coat) is a 2 weeks old male grey seal pup rescued from Blackpool Mill in North Devon on 21st September 2021 by members of the BDMLR. He was separated from his mum. Coral is a female ~3 weeks old grey seal pup that was rescued from Millook beach in Bude on 15th September 2021 by BDMLR. She was found with wounds to her body and had an injury to her eye.
Puffin Coral


Sheba celebrates her 47th Birthday!
Happy 47th Birthday to Sheba! If there was a bake off for fish ice cakes, the animal care team would absolutely win it!


Photo Gallery
We hope you enjoy the selection of photos taken in September 2021, click here or on the photo of your choice below to see a larger version.


Animal
Adoptions
Dogs are
Welcome
Sanctuary´s
Leaflet
A special way to honour a birthday, special occasion or to commemorate the life of a loved one, while supporting an important cause.

To purchase an adoption, simply call the Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221361 or purchase your adoption pack during your visit!   Please click here for more details.
Did you know that the Cornish Seal Sanctuary loves well behaved dogs! Dogs are always welcome at the Sanctuary provided they are kept on a lead.

Please do not leave dog(s) in your car during your visit. Also don´t forget to bring some poo bags with you to clear up after your dog(s).
Click here to download a printer friendly pdf version of the Sanctuary´s leaflet.


Click here to view the latest Sanctuary´s map.
Animal Adoptions Dogs are always welcome Leaflet for 2021


Put Pups First Car Sticker Virtual Shop
On 1st September the Cornish Seal Sanctuary celebrated the amazing marine animals that are seals #NationalSealDay!
The #National Seal Day marks the launch of the Sanctuary´s "#PutPupsFirst" campaign.
Make sure you pick up your free Cornish Seal Sanctuary´s Car Sticker when you next visit!

They are on display in the gift shop and the reception area.
To help support the rehabilitation work or support by purchasing a gift from the Cornish Seal Sanctuary´s online Virtual Shop.
Put Pups First Car Sticker - 2021 Virtual Shop


If you find a Seal in the Wild
For over 60 years the Sanctuary has been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing pups from the Cornish coastline and beyond that find themselves in trouble, whether it be eye problems, respiratory infections and malnourishment to broken bones, pollution-related problems and being separated from their mother too soon.
BellaBella being checked by the Animal Care Team
A quick reminder that if you discover a seal pup that is in distress or alone, please call the Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221361 and/or the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) team on 01825 765546.

DO keep your distance;
DON´T attempt to handle or touch the pup;
DON´T attempt to put the pup back in the sea;
DON´T ignore the situation;
DO tell the appropriate organisation.

When you ring an appropriate organisation, please be prepared to give an exact location of the seal, your contact details, what condition is the seal in for example is it alone, thin, injured or seems unwell (noisy breathing, coughing, runny nose). Tell people around you to keep clear of the seal by at least 50 metres, if you can, draw a circle in the sand around the pup.

Remember most often seals come out of the water on to land to rest, digest after eating their food, relax and sleep.


What to do if you find a dead seal on beach!

If you come across a dead seal, the advice is not to touch or go near it, please call Cornwall Wildlife Trust on 0345 201 2626 or go to their Website.


Post Release Monitoring of Seals
Each update we will include any tagged seals spotted in the wild by members of the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust (CSGRT) from around the coast of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly:-

Cary on 1st September 2021
Hungry Caterpillar on 1st & 4th September 2021
Pippin on 1st, 4th & 20th September 2021
Jenga on 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th & 18th September 2021
Hufflepuff on 3rd, 20th & 22nd September 2021
Snowdrop on 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 16th & 20th September 2021
Joy Division on 16th September 2021
Billie Jean (right) on 4th, 6th, 20th & 23rd September 2021
Goonies on 7th & 29th September 2022
Orion on 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th & 29th September 2021
The Shining 20th & 25th September 2021
A-Ha on 16th September 2021
Alpha on 20th September 2021
Riley on 20th, 29th & 30th September 2021

Photo credit: Sue Sayer of CSGRT
Billie Jean - Photo credit: Sue Sayer of CSGRT
The above information regarding tagged seals seen in the wild is copyright of the CSGRT.

By monitoring the behaviour of seals after release back into the wild, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and the CSGRT 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 CSGRT volunteers 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.



This news update has been put together by volunteers/supporters of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.

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