Seal Rescue

Every year, particularly during the breeding season, seal pups are washed up on the beaches around Skegness, abandoned or separated from their mothers by the treacherous tides. The lucky ones are brought into Natureland's Seal Hospital where they are cared for using a method researched since 1966. This method has proved so successful that many are safely reared each year, all of which would have died if they had been left on the beach.On arrival at the Seal Hospital the seal is immediately put in a quiet isolation pen and allowed to destress before a full medical examination is carried out and a programme of treatment is decided upon. The real problem is persuading the pup to eat: seal mothers have a very special sort of milk, which is about 40% fat (cows milk is about 4%) and as thick as double cream. The pup suckles differently from cats and dogs, for instance, and they cannot be taught to suck from a bottle. We soon found out that with a little help for a week or two they could swallow whole sprats about 3 inches (7.5cm) long.
At first their mouths must be opened but they soon get the idea and queue up for their two hourly feeds. To help keep them healthy through this difficult time we give them vitamins and other medicines - just slipping each pill inside a small fish.
If all goes well the pups are moved into the Rearing Pool where they are taught to feed on fish in the water and gain the bodyweight and strength needed to survive in the wild. Some months after joining us when the seal pup is fit, fat and healthy, it is returned home to the sea.

Threats

The main threat to seals in the wild is human activity. In some parts of the world seals are still hunted for their fur and blubber. Seals are also at risk due to overfishing , chemical pollution and discarded ropes, nets and fishing line in which they can become entangled.
In 1988 the seal virus killed approximately 50% of the seals in the North Sea.
The seal virus struck again in 2002, killing approximately 3000 seals along the east coast of the UK. Although more was known about the virus, there was still nothing we could do to stop the wild seal population being affected. However, by cooperating with the RSPCA we were able to keep non-infected and infected rescued seals separate so that we can at least release some healthy seals back into the wild to help build the colonies back up.