Saffron was rescued on 11th January 2023
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Saffron, 12 weeks old female grey seal pup, was rescued on the 11th of January 2023 from St Ives by members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) marine mammal medics. She was found with a high temperature of 40oC and malnourished.
The pup was taken to the BDMLR´s seal hospital for initial treatment and care until a pen was made available for her at the Sanctuary´s hospital at Gweek on 19th January 2023.
Photo Credit : Alison Davey - BDMLR
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Update - 22nd January 2023 : These photos below were taken on the 21st of January 2023 in the Sanctuary´s hospital isolation pen. She currently weighs 14.35kg.
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Update - 4th February 2023 : Saffron has now been moved to the outside nursery pools for her next stage of rehabilitation. She shares this pool with another rescued seal pup named Tulsi.
These pups will go through their next stage of rehabilitation, this means they are on the road to recovery and ready to mix with other seal pups, as well as have a deeper pool to swim in. They will learn how to behave and socialise, interacting with other each and also competing for their fish, which are all vital skills they will need when the pups are released back into the wild within the next 4-6 weeks. Click here to watch a short video of Saffron and pool mate Tulsi.
Her flipper tag ID number is SL177 (white).
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Update - 26th February 2023 : Saffron was moved from nursery pool 3 to the rehabilitation pool on 25th February 2023. She currently weighs 26kgs.
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Update - 5th March 2023 : It is always a good day when the Animal Care Team return the rescued seal pups back into the wild where they belong, but at the same time it is a bit emotional saying goodbye after being with them for the past 2-3 months.
Saffron along with Vanilla were loaded in the Sanctuary´s were loaded into the back of a 4x4 vehicle from the rehabilitation pool and driven the short distance to Kennack Sands on 3rd March 2023.
It was such a beautiful cold winter sunny afternoon as we watched the seal pups being released. Vanilla was out of her cage first followed by Saffron. As they made their way to the water, they looked back to say thank you and goodbye. We all wished them good luck and waved with tears in our eyes. Click here to watch a short video of their release.
Click here to see a selection of photos of their release back into the wild.
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Update - 26th July 2024 : Saffron was seen at haul-outs along the south west coast of Cornwall on 30th March 2023, 11th June 2023, 13th November 2023 and 11th December 2023, 9th, 16th, 18th & 23rd February 2024, 8th, 23rd & 26th March 2024, 19th April 2024 and 14th & 26th July 2024
by members of the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust (CSGRT) volunteers who spend hundreds of hours of their own time to photo, identify and watch over the seals around the Cornish coast.
Photo Credit : Robert Wells - CSGRT - 30th March 2023
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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, this is essential to make the oxygen we breathe.
Seals are our globally rare wildlife tourist attraction, helping diversify coastal economic prosperity.
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