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This week the GSPCA team were made aware of a very poorly thin seal pup along the Guernsey coast.
Head of Marine Mammals Geoff George did get very close to the pup yesterday but it manged to get away.
This morning we had another call and thanfully Geoff managed to contain the grey seal pup who is now back in intensive care at the GSPCA, separate to the other 6 seals in our care.
To make a donation to help the seals in our care please go to https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)
Geoff George GSPCA Head of Marine Mammals said “This morning we had a call for a sick seal pup at Les Pecquiries.”
“We have been monitoring and tried to catch the same sick seal pup yesterday and thankfully today we manged to catch what is a very poorly seal.”
“At only 14kg it should be well over 40kg for its young age and is very chest.”
“We have named the pup Maverick and despite being unwell and extremely thin it is very feisty.”
“In the last ten years we have helped 18 grey seal pups back to the wild and with Maverick we now have 7 in our care.”
“The other 7 seal pups are Sizzle, Luna C, Jagho Herman and Blueberry from Guernsey and Aurora and Eliza the Jersey pups, all are doing well.”
“Some are looking so well we are hoping to release them in the next week or so all being well with their progress and the weather.”
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “Its been a really busy seal season and now have 7 in our care which means we are going through a huge amount of fish and proves the need for a new Wildlife Hospital.”
“The new very poorly pup Maverick has already taken some fish from Geoff but we are concerned it might have a lung infection.”
“We thought we were at the end of the seal pup season in the Channel Islands and hopefully with the nice weather we are hopeful are services won’t be needed to rescue any others until the next season.”
“If you do see a seal pup please do give us a call on 257261 or send a few pictures via our facebook or admin@gspca.org.gg so we can monitor them.”
“For advice on what to do and how to identify a sick seal pup check out our advice page http://www.gspca.org.gg/animal/seal-advice “
“There are many ways to support our work and the seal pups from making a donation towards their care to donating or helping towards the new much needed Wildlife Hospital.”
“To make a donation to help the seals in our care please go to https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA) .”
“You can also donate by calling 01481 257261, by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey GY6 8UD or popping up to the Shelter in St Andrews.”
“To make a direct donation to the Wildlife Hospital please visit - https://giving.gg/donate/event/4618/Please-Support-the-GSPCA-Wildlife-Hospital-Appeal .”
“To Buy a Brick in the new Wildlife Hospital and download a leaflet please click here - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Buy%20a%20Brick%20Wildlife%20Hospital.pdf .”
“Larger donors or corporates may want to make a larger donation and become an Exclusive Build Partner and to find out more please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-exclusive-build-partner .”
Here is a table of the seals we have helped back to the wild and those in our care -
Name Arrived Where found
Jethou Bumblee November 2012 Jethou
Hanois January 2013 Guernsey
Trinity January 2014 Guernsey
Eden January 2014 Guernsey
Bonnie January 2016 Guernsey
Sami December 2016 Jersey
Temperance November 2017 Guernsey
Andrew November 2018 Jersey
Marty December 2018 Jersey
Gully December 2018 Guernsey
Sealia January 2019 Guernsey
Mambo February 2019 Guernsey
Hannah February 2019 Guernsey
Pebbles February 2020 Guernsey
Joey November 2020
Titan December 2020 Guernsey
India March 2021 Guernsey
Pork Pie May 2021 Guernsey (originally from Cornwall)
Aurora November 2021 Jersey (still in care)
Eliza November 2021 Jersey (still in care)
Jagho Herman December 2021 Herm, Guernsey (still in care)
Luna C December 2021 Guernsey (still in care)
Blueberry December 2021 Guernsey (still in care)
Sizzle December 2021 Guernsey (still in care)
Maverick April 2022 Guernsey (still in care)
To see some of the previous stories about seals please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/tag/seals . Some grey seal facts -
- Population numbers since 1960s have doubled
- A grey seal pup weighs 14kg at birth
- A grey seal pup mothers milk contains 60% fat
- Grey seals can dive to a depth of 70m
- Another name for a grey seal is the horsehead seal
- Grey seals are found in the waters surrounding Europe, Russia, North America, and Channel Islands
- Grey seals can be found in estuaries, inter tidal zones, brackish water, polar and shallow seas
- There are 18 known species of seal in the world
- Many sick seal pups need tube feeding every 2-3 hours day and night on arrival
- The seal pups in our care once eating will consume 20-30 herring or mackerel each day
- We aim for a release weight in excess of 40 kg, with good weather and a remote location
- The GSPCA has returned 14 seals back to the wild in the last ten years
For advice on what to do if you see or find sick or injured wildlife please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice or call 01481 257261
http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/maverick-first-seal-pup-rescue-2022-rescued-les-pecquiries
