Careering towards a seal crisis
RSPCA wildlife centres are bracing themselves for a long winter as the seal season approaches and pens are already filling up with poorly pups.
When an unexpected tidal surge hit the Norfolk coast last December more than 100 seal pups were left injured and stranded.
The RSPCA was called in to help rescue the orphaned pups and bring them back to full health.
The number of admissions jumped by 61% in 2013. Now, as the winter months begin, the RSPCA has already admitted dozens of pups in to their care meaning space for more is running low.
The four RSPCA Wildlife Centres across the country see hundreds of both common and grey seals go through their doors each year and they are expecting this year to be no different.
It costs around £22 a week to feed each seal and with so many young mouths to feed with each animal expecting up to five months of rehabilitation the Society is readying itself for another busy seal season.
One centre in Somerset is already almost full to the brim with pups and should storms hit like last year facilities will be pushed to the limit.
The RSPCA’s East Winch centre in Norfolk had 108 seal pups in its care after a tidal surge hit the north Norfolk coastline last December (2013).
The influx of pups was the largest staff had seen in the centre’s 25 year history.
Because the seal pups were so young each one needed one-to-one care and feeding by stomach tubing at three-hourly intervals in order to survive.
Manager at RSPCA East Winch Alison Charles said: “Winter typically brings on stormy weather – which can cause huge problems for seals and their pups.
“If we experience the same kind of storm battering we did last year then it will be tough.
“The 108 pups we had in really stretched us because they require a lot of intensive care. We really couldn't have managed without the staff and volunteers’ good will and doing extra shifts to make sure the pups were fed. They were vital.
“The rehabilitation of seal pups is a real marathon, it can take months for them to become fighting fit, strong and healthy enough to be released back into the wild.
“Space really was at a premium last year and our existing cubicles were having to house 4 or 5 seals rather than the usual two, while other animals were having to take up residence in other areas of the hospital in makeshift pens so that we could make room for as many animals as we could. We had swans in the operating theatre and hedgehogs in the visitor centre. There were animals everywhere!
“We had so many come in to us in such a vulnerable state all at the same time it was a mammoth task. The level of care is so full on. It took a lot of hard work to get them through such a difficult time and we couldn’t have done it without the public’s help.”
The RSPCA can only rescue animals in need with your help. Please text RESCUE to 84010 to give £3. (Texts costs £3 plus one standard network rate message.)
Notes to editors:
In 2013 the RSPCA admitted and cared for 273 seals, in 2012 there were 170 and 2011 165 seals were admitted
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