A one week old female whitecoat grey pup was rescued on the 24th of August 2024 after she was found on the beach at Strangles, Boscastle by members of the public. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) area coordinator arranged for local volunteer marine mammal medics to check on the seal pup. Michelle Robinson Clement, one of the medics who was assisted by Kym, Rachel and Debbie, went to check the seal pup, said "This pup was unfortunately in a terrible state and once located on beach, was uplifted immediately due to the big swell, that would have taken her to sea and probably not seen again.   Thanks to Ado quick response and knowledge of the sea, he knows where the cut off points and dangers are.   Approximately 5 to 6 days old? 14kg with a darkened remains of umbilical of scab.   A huge abscess under chin where she had been suckling on rocks that had dried but very swollen and front flipper pads also inflamed with infection.   Raging temperature of 40.1 degrees that wouldn´t drop even after 3 electrolyte feeds and a very fast breathing." Michelle continues "Thankfully after care and medication given at a local veterinary surgery overnight and a very long night and day for some of us medics and the staff, I´m relieved to say that the pups´s temperature had finally started dropping, and the next morning her temperature was back to normal."

Photos credits (below) : Kym Harris, Rachel Shorland & Debbie De Ste Croix - BDMLR

The next morning the pup was relayed by car by the some of the BDMLR marine medics from the Vets holding facilities in North Cornwall to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek for her care and rehabilitation. She is being fed a blended fish soup every 4 hours to keep up the level of feeding that her mum would have provided, but even so, it is impossible for the team to emulate the nutrient rich and calorie dense milk that ensures pups are able to put on around 1.5kg a day up to their weaning at around 17-21 days.   Midge has a long rehab in front of her, but the Sanctuary team will make every effort to give this pup a second chance.   She currently weighs 13.8kg and is on a course of antibiotics prescribed by the vets due to an umbilical infection (Omphalitus).   This means the Omphalitis is when the cord and/or surrounding skin becomes infected.   Good luck little one! These photos below were taken two days later on the 27th of August 2024 in the hospital.

Update - 6th September 2024 : Midge has sadly passed away on the 5th of September 2024; it is always very sad when one of the rescued pups dies but sometimes these little ones just don´t have enough antibodies and strength in them to pull through, despite the best efforts of all the Sanctuary´s Animal Care Specialists.