JSPCA PRESS RELEASE

November 2007  

STRANDED SEAL RESCUED BY JERSEY MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE WITH HELP FROM JSPCA

During the morning of Thursday 15th November 2007, a young Grey seal was spotted at Robin Bay at La Rocque.  The Jersey Marine Mammal Rescue Group (JMMR) were soon alerted to the animal's presence and advice was given to closely watch the seal from a distance to see if its mother returned to collect her charge.  Seals regularly come out of the sea to rest and pups are often left alone on the shore by their mothers who may be offshore.  Advice was given to avoid approaching too closely to the seal youngster as this action may scare away the parents meaning that they would subsequently abandon the young seal.

However, the seal was still at the Bay the following morning so the JMMR sprang into action.  The British Diver's Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in the UK, a parent charity to the JMMR, was contacted for further guidelines and advice about the situation and the young animal (thought to be over 2 weeks of age) was carefully transported, with the help of the JSPCA Animal Ambulance, to the JSPCA Animals' Shelter for a thorough veterinary examination and rehydration.  

Further to the veterinary assessment, it was decided to transport the youngster, with the help of the BDMLR, Condor Ferries and the JSPCA Ambulance, to the GSPCA, Guernsey, where they have staff specially trained in the methods of seal rehabilitation, treatment and care.  The seal is currently doing very well and will be transported to the UK to a specialist seal rescue centre at the end of the week.

Pictures reproduced with kind permission of Donna De Gruchy (JMMR)

ENDS