Fifth seal pup rescued by the GSPCA

Monday 04 February 2019

Another seal pup has surprised the GSPCA by being spotted in need of help very late in the seal season at Fort Doyle.

The animal welfare charity has already rescued four other pups this season and is now treating its latest patient for a chest infection.

The grey seal, now called Mambo was rescued on Saturday afternoon. The very thin poorly pup has a chest infection and discharge and is now in the intensive care area for seal pups at the GSPCA. He will join Sealia, Andy, Marty and Gully as the fifth seal pup currently in the charity's care. 

Geoff George Head of Marine Mammals said:

“We certainly don’t expect to have to rescue a fifth seal pup on the weekend. We have rescued local pups through January but to need help in February is very late. We’ve called the new pup Mambo and we are all doing all we can for this very poorly pup. Sealia, Andy, Marty and Gully are improving daily and two of them are now out on our pools.”

Pictured: Sealia the seal

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said:

“It’s been another very busy weekend at the GSPCA. Mambo takes our seal pup numbers to five; two from Jersey and three from Guernsey. We continue to appeal for donations towards their care and to help please call 257261, pop into the shelter or online .  

"This Friday is the start of GSPCA Purple Week which you can find out about by going here and this is to celebrate 146 years of the GSPCA and to help us help those animals in need it takes place between the 8th and 15th February."  Here is information if you find an injured animal you can call us 24/7 on 257261 or check out our wildlife advice pages.

"Every autumn and winter the shores of the Bailiwick see grey seal pups being born. In recent years every winter the GSPCA have helped rescue and care for grey seal pups.  If anyone sees a pup with or without a mum we really do appreciate a call so that we are aware of its location and condition, but here is some advice.  A healthy pup looks like a big, stuffed maggot without a neck. However, a thin pup looks sleek (but not bony) and has a visible neck, like a healthy dog.

"Please do not touch the seal. They can give a nasty bite, which will become infected by bacteria that live in a seal’s mouths.  Note: do not allow dogs or other animals to harass a seal.  If a seal is scared back into the water, it could then be washed out to sea by strong currents and be lost. You should not put a seal pup back in the sea as it may get into difficulty.  

"If a seal pup is sick, thin or injured then we would ask you to contact the GSPCA immediately on 01481 257261 day or night.  When reporting an injured, sick or abandoned seal to the GSPCA, please make sure you are able to supply the following information:  exact location; position on the beach, and state of the tide, how long you have observed the pup; any disturbance / risk to it; whether the mother has been seen. Any wounds / obvious signs of illness length/colour/condition. Caution:- handling of any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous. Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues." he said.