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The UK's RSPCA has told the GSPCA it can't help with caring for seal pups rescued from local waters this winter.
The Guernsey charity had to ask for help as building work at its St Andrew's headquarters is due to start, with the seal pup rehabilitation facilities due to be knocked down soon.
But the RSPCA has said that "for a number of reasons" it can't help currently, including the fact that it has a number of seals in its care at the moment.
That has left the GSPCA looking at "other options" to help the seals in its care - which has doubled from one to two this week.
Roar was rescued last month, and California Girl joined him in the seal pool yesterday.
Geoff George, Head of Marine Mammals at the GSPCA said they are doing all they can to help her.
“(Yesterday) morning we were called out to rescue a grey seal pup at Fort Hommet," he said.
“This is the second pup we’ve been called to help this season and Roar the pup from last month is doing really well.
“We have called this pup California Girl and she like Roar when rescued is only 15kgs, very dehydrated, thin, has a possible chest infection and full of worms a similar age of a month or so old so really should be three times the weight she is currently.
“The next few hours having obviously separated from her mother too soon likely not helped by the current weather will be the hardest and we will do all we can for her around the clock care and of course keep everyone updated.”
Pictured: Roar was rescued last month.
The GSPCA's Manager, Steve Byrne added that the building work at the charity's headquarters is complicating matters but they remain committed to helping every animal that needs it. Therefore, any other organisation that could assist the GSPCA in caring for seal pups in particular this winter is asked to get in touch.
“We are due to knock down our current seal facilities to build new so we did reach out to the RSPCA to see if they could help. Although they did help us pre 2012 they have informed us that for a number of reasons from large numbers of seal pups in their care already to other concerns they won’t be in a position to help us for the foreseeable future so we are now looking at other options to help the seal pups needing our care while the build takes place.
“As we have our preferred builders we are now in negotiations with we are hopeful for a quick turn around for Roar and California Girl ahead of the new build but we are reaching out to anyone who thinks they can help with certainly this and next years seal pup rehab.
“When our current wildlife building comes down we have areas for triaging the seal pups but it is the pool stage we will not have and this is when we get the weight and fitness into each pup to ready for the wild.”
Mr Byrne said the GSPCA is expecting more seal pups to need help over the coming months, with advice available online for what to do if you find a poorly pup.
“Seal pup season is once again with us and we have lots of details online on what to do if you do see a seal in trouble, but the easiest is just call 257261,” he said.
“In 12 years we have now released 41 (seals) back into local waters.
“We are very busy at this time of year with wildlife and are now very close to selecting a building firm for the new Wildlife Hospital so it is highly this season of seals we are looking for help in the UK for their rehab while the build takes place but we will of course stabilise them here.
“This will be the BIGGEST Build in our history and we really need your support and to find out more please visit gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-biggest-build-appeal."
What to do if you see a seal pup
Record number of seals at GSPCA
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