Pup Update : 5th October 2024 - JP spent just about 2 weeks in the hospital before he was moved down to the outside pool for his next stage of rehabilitation. This means he is on the road to recovery and also has a deeper pool to swim in.
The animal care team are really pleased with Maggot´s rehabilitation. It will not be too long before Maggot is ready to be returned home once she reaches 30+kg in weight.
Mary´s rehabilation is progressing well and she is putting on weight, when she reaches 30+kg, it will be time for her to return to home to the ocean.
Sun Beetle´s rehabilitation hasn´t been easy. She required several additional vet checks, as the animal care team were initially concerned about her lack of response to treatment. However, she eventually turned a corner! Sun Beetle is now completely off treatment, feeding herself, and steadily gaining weight. She´s also one of the feistiest pups the team have had, which will see her in good stead for release.
The photos below of JP, Maggot, Mary and Sun Beetle were taken on the 4th of October 2024.
Pup Update : 20th October 2024 - Sun Beetle has been joined by Klaus in the outside nursery pools. Klaus, a 4-5 weeks old male grey seal pup, was rescued on the 4th of October 2024 from Stinky Bay in Polzeath by the members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) volunteer marine mammal medics. This pup was found with multiple wounds to his body. He spent about 2 weeks in the hospital before being moved to the outside pool for his next stage of rehabilitation.
This photo below was taken on the 18th of October 2024 - Klaus (left) and Sun Beetle (right).
Update : 26th October 2024 - Little Purple was rescued by BDMLR from Fisherman´s Cove near Porthreath on the 7th of October 2024, with multiple bite wounds and a severe infection on his back flipper. After a thorough veterinary examination, it was clear that he would need surgery on his flipper.
Thanks to your generous donations and support, Purple underwent his operation on the 17th of October 20024, and the Animal Care Team are thrilled to share that he´s recovering well! He´s now ready to continue his rehabilitation until he´s strong enough to go home.
The Team cannot Thank You enough for your incredible kindness - it´s because of you that we can continue doing what we do. A special thanks also goes to @roseveanvets for their outstanding care and expertise during Purple´s surgery!
Purple is feeling much better now and will soon start practising his swimming in the hospital pool.
These photos below of Purple were taken the next day after his operation.
Tamara, the Sanctuary´s Curator, said "We´d like to give a Huge Thank You to Head & Head Veterinary Practice Ltd for looking after our seals for over 20 years!
Working in partnership with our own Animal Care teams, their compassionate and dedicated staff have gone above and beyond to care for our resident seals and pups, providing their expertise at all hours of the day and night!
From the team on reception to all the vets and nurses working at the practice, every single person has played a huge part in making our sanctuary what it is today. We couldn´t have done it without you!
We will be so sad to leave but feel confident that our seals will be in safe hands with our new vets at Rosevean Veterinary Practice. The team have already shown us that they are more than qualified for the job, after being thrown somewhat in the deep end dealing with our first emergency case this pup season.
Our newest admission Purple needed an operation after being brought in with a swollen infected flipper and we are pleased to report that purple is now well on the road to recovery.
We look forward to building a long-lasting partnership with Rosevean and continuing to provide the best care possible for our animals."
On 29th of October 2024 the Cornish Seal Sanctuary released their first 2 pups of the 2024/25 rescue season. Each rescued seal pup is weighed every week to find out who has reached the ideal target weight of 30+kg. Maggot along with Mary were weighed and both were over 30kg, so were ready to be released back into the wild. They had completed their rehabilitation and it was time for them to go home.
It was such a beautiful early cold autumn´s morning as we watched the seal pups being released. We all wished them good luck and waved with tears in our eyes. Click here to see a selection of photos.
Banana is in the nursery pool at the moment as she is feeling a little under the weather. She is being monitored by the animal care team. Speedy recovery beautiful Banana.
Happy 10th birthday to the lovely Willow
Willow had a fab day Seal-abrating with Pumpkin and Jinx, they all enjoyed the fishy ice cake!
Happy 23rd birthday to our lovely Attie
Happiest 7th birthday to our Gorgerous Banana
Banana had a lovely day and got to enjoy a special ice cake all to herself!
This month we also celebrated Pumpkin´s birthday, he has the very best day of seal-abrating everyone´s favourite day of the year...his birthday on 31st October (Pumpkin Day).
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary team were joined by the One Bag Beach Clean team for a joint Spooktacular Beach Clean-Up at Poldhu Cove which was held on Sunday 27th October 2024.
It was an amazing morning with 33 lovely volunteers who helped to collect 9.64kg of rubbish and 0.6kg of recycling waste! Well done everyone!
The next Beach Clean will take place on Tuesday 5th of November 2024 at midday at Coverack.
Why not join the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and The Bay Hotel (TR12 6TF) staff in Coverack for a November beach clean-up.
Bring your friends and family for a coffee, cake and beach clean date! Enjoy a FREE hot drink and cake from Bay Hotel for all volunteers, and a FREE day pass to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary as a special thank-you!
Let´s keep our beaches beautiful, protect local wildlife, and have a fun day out!
On the Sanctuary´s blog this Wildlife Wednesday (2nd October 2024), our Conservation Officer Grace explores some simple, practical steps that anyone can take to reduce plastic waste and make a lasting difference for our beaches and oceans. Read the blog here.
Frightful Bugs and Mini Beasts! 26th October to 3rd November 2024
There were spooky fun activities during October´s half-term?
Dived into the creepy-crawly world of bugs and mini beasts at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.
In line with the seal pup naming theme this season, we invited you to come and meet the rescued seal pups and residents and took part in the "Bugs and Mini beasts" Halloween trail, enjoyed some "creepy crafts" and got back to nature.
This was suitable for families and children of all ages, our spooky, nature-filled trail and was the perfect way to spend the half-term! Plus, on Halloween (31st October) Connie´s Creatures displayed her spine-chilling bone collection in the marquee, shedding light on the eerie anatomy of our beloved Cornish marine species with an interactive Natural History exhibition.
The dedicated teams held seal pup rescue demonstrations throughout the week, alongside regular feeds and talks to share the resident puffin and seal rescue stories.
A GREAT fun family day out and learn about our important Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release mission to help seals in need.
You can save 20% on tickets by booking online at least two days in advance. All the tickets give you re-entry to the Sanctuary for 12 months...So you can come and visit your favourite residents again and again!
We hope you enjoy the selection of photos taken in October 2024, click here or on the photo of your choice below to see a larger version.
Each released seal pup is given a flipper tag with an unique ID number. This helps the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust (CSGRT) to track and monitor where pups end up and how they are doing once they are back in the wild.
This month the following seals were spotted in the wild by members of the CSGRT from around the coast of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly:-
Nemo on 5th October 2024 Poppadom (photo bottom left) on 10th October 2024 Star Anise (photo bottom right) on 10th October 2024 Pippin on 11th and 15th October 2024 Mayonnaise on 11th and 18th October 2024 Orion on 14th, 17th, 21st, 28th, 30th and 31st October 2024 Grapefruit, Guinness and Wonder Woman on 16th October 2024 Rocket Dog on 16th and 30th October 2024 Nemo on 16th and 30th October 2024 Goonies on 17th and 24th October 2024 Petunia on 17th October 2024 Horseradish on 18th, 21st, 25th and 28th October 2024 Nampara on 21st October 2024 Shuttle on 21st and 28th October 2024 Turtle on 21st and 28th October 2024 Beast on 28th and 30th October 2024 Joy Division,
Jubilee,
Stephen Fry and The Shining on 30th October 2024 Elvis on 31st October 2024
Photos Credit - Sue Sayer MBE and Kate Hockley - CSGRT - 10th October 2024
The 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.
