Latest news with #CornishSealSanctuary
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Rehabilitated seals from Cornish Seal Sanctuary tracked using GPS
A GPS tagging project has given researchers an insight into the movements of rehabilitated grey seal pups. The trial study run by Dr Luis Huckstadt of the University of Exeter, in cooperation with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, tracked the movements of 16 rehabilitated seal pups, which were released from the sanctuary in first pup fitted with a tag, Maggot, made an unexpected journey to Brittany, travelling more than 150 miles (241km). A second pup named Selkie, rescued from Jersey in January, was the first of the seals in the study to cross international waters by swimming up the River Somme in northern France. Whirligig, a pup rescued from Weymouth, headed straight back to his local waters after being was earlier spotted lounging on the pontoons of Brixham Harbour in the spring. Dung Beetle, a pup released in south Cornwall, headed straight for the southern coast of Van Domberg, senior animal care specialist and research coordinator at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, said: "For the first time, we're seeing where these pups go, how quickly they settle, and where they find feeding grounds."The early data gives us valuable insight into the success of rehabilitation and the behaviour of young seals post-release." The sanctuary said the project was made possible thanks to guests and supporters, as well as the dedication of the its animal care team, who rehabilitated more than 30 pups over the Van Domberg said: "We rescue seals with the aim of releasing strong, healthy animals back into the wild. "But thanks to this technology, we're finally able to follow their stories beyond the shoreline."It's amazing to see them thriving, exploring, and in some cases, travelling hundreds of miles."It's real proof that our work matters. "It's so exciting to see where they head off to and heartwarming to know that they are doing so well out there in the wild."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Underweight seal flown from Isles of Scilly to Cornwall sanctuary
An underweight and lone seal pup has been flown from the Isles of Scilly to a seal sanctuary in Davey, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said the pup was about five days old and had been initially spotted alone on an inaccessible beach on Tresco on female pup made its way to St Mary's harbour but rescuers said she was underweight and alone, so they asked Penzance Helicopters if they could manage an extra passenger on pup, which has been called Grub, was taken to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek. Rescuers said Grub was "progressing well" and was on a diet of fish soup four times a day. Ms Davey told BBC Radio Cornwall: "The pup was clearly underweight, it only weighed 13kg (28.6lbs) and it still had its umbilicus so it was, we reckon, probably four to five days old."It has a full white of coat, which they have for the first three weeks, and it had not started to moult."She said Penzance Helicopters had "bent over backwards" to help ensure the pup got the timely care it needed.A spokesperson for Penzance Helicopters said: "It's not always about supporting the islands with a lifeline link for people, sometimes we get a curve ball and we are always happy to help."
