Jarvis, was approximately 12 weeks old male common seal pup, when rescued on the 16th of September 2016 from Porthminster beach in St Ives by Dave & Lesley, marine mammal medic volunteers of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
He was found severely underweight at 11kg but also completely blind due to congenital bilateral cataracts in both eyes.
The Animal Care Team took good care of Jarvis while he was in the hospital. He progressed well, learnt to feed for himself and got in some swimming lessons in the daytime when Jarvis´s pen was filled up with water, which he loved! On the 30th of September 2016 he weighed 12kg.
These photos below were taken on the 30th of September 2016 in the hospital.
In early November 2016 Jarvis was moved to the outside nursery pool. As he will not be released back to the wild, Jarvis had fun with the Animal Care Team, learning the crucial husbandry training techniques, which prepared him for move in with the resident Common Seals.
Click here to see a larger version of this and a further photo taken on the 19th of November 2016.
Jarvis was moved into the common seals enclosure to be a resident with Babyface, Bo and Buddy on the 31st of December 2016.
Jarvis´s Update : 1st October 2026 -
Fundraising appeal launched to give much-loved resident the chance to see for the very first time.
A much-loved seal who has never seen the world around him could be given the gift of sight, thanks to specialist cataract surgery.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, Cornwall, has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to help give Jarvis, one of its much-loved resident seals, the chance to see for the very first time.
Jarvis was rescued in 2016 and has lived with cataracts in both eyes ever since. Now, specialist veterinary surgeons believe cataract surgery could give him the opportunity to experience sight for the first time in his life. Click here to read more.
To support Jarvis and help give him the chance to see for the first time, visit - GOFUNDME.
Jarvis´s Update : 8th October 2026 -
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the supporters, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary have now reached the fundraising target for Jarvis´s life-changing eye operation. The Seal Sanctuary are delighted to share that Jarvis is booked in for surgery next week. This vital operation could give him the opportunity to experience the world in a way he never has before, and the Seal Sanctuary simply couldn´t have got to this stage without your support.
From everyone at the Seal Sanctuary, to every person who donated, shared his story, and helped make this possible. Your kindness will have a lasting impact on Jarvis´s life, and we are incredibly grateful.
We will be keeping you updated on his progress and wish him all the luck in the world as he heads into surgery next week. Thank you for being part of Jarvis´s remarkable journey.
The Seal Sanctuary´s fundraiser is still open if you wanted to donate towards the ongoing aftercare Jarvis will need.
Jarvis´s Update : 14th October 2026 - Thousands of supporters have come together to help a much-loved Cornish Seal Sanctuary resident take the next step towards sight, with a fundraising appeal for Jarvis the seal exceeding its £15,600 target ahead of his planned surgery this week.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is celebrating the extraordinary success of its fundraising campaign to fund specialist cataract surgery for resident common seal Jarvis, who has lived with cataracts in both eyes since his rescue in 2016.
Thanks to overwhelming support from the local community and seal lovers across the globe, more than £16,000 has been raised through public donations, helping to make the potentially life-changing operation possible. Read more.
Jarvis´s Update : 19th October 2026 - The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is delighted to share that Jarvis, the common seal, who captured hearts across the country through an extraordinary community fundraising effort, is recovering well following his successful eye surgery.
The 10 year old seal underwent a specialist procedure this week to remove cataracts that had severely impaired his vision. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of supporters who helped fund the operation, Jarvis is now resting comfortably under the close supervision of the Sanctuary´s expert animal care team.
Early signs are extremely encouraging, with Jarvis already showing positive progress as he begins his recovery journey. Read more.
You can help support the work of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary as they care for their Residents and Rescued Seal Pups by joining the Adoption Scheme.
Click here for more information.
Each Adoption makes a valuable contribution to the seal rescue programme, allowing the Sanctuary to provide continuing care for those seals and other marine mammals around our coasts that need our help and to look after those that are unable to be released back into the wild.
