Cornish Seal Sanctuary: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:29, 18 May 2023

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, owned by The Sea Life Trust, serves as a haven for injured seal pups. Located alongside the Helford River in Cornwall, England, UK, near the village of Gweek.

In 1958, the founder, Ken Jones, stumbled upon a stranded baby seal on the shores near his home in St Agnes. This marked the beginning of numerous rescue operations. As the scope of their work expanded, a single pool at St Agnes could no longer accommodate their efforts. In 1975, they discovered a new site in Gweek, where the sanctuary gradually flourished. Today, it has five pools and a purpose-built hospital.

On average, the sanctuary cares for sixty to seventy seal pups, with over eighty rescued from the wild in 2018 alone. These young seals are usually rescued due to separation from their mothers, rendering them unable to feed, or because they have become entangled in marine debris. The primary goal is to rehabilitate them, providing the best chance for survival in their natural habitat.

Typically, the rescue process commences with a report of an apparently abandoned pup. If the rescue team determines that the pup is in peril, it is captured and brought to the sanctuary. Upon arrival, a comprehensive medical assessment is conducted, guiding the subsequent course of treatment. Many of the pups suffer from malnutrition and infected wounds. As the seal begins to recover and gain weight, it is relocated to a convalescence pool, where it interacts with other recovering and resident seals, acquiring vital skills in food competition. After a few months, when the seal has reached a healthy weight and regained full health, it is released into the sea, ideally close to its original discovery location. Before release, each seal is tagged with a flipper tag and, more recently, a hat tag that falls off during the first molt. These tags provide valuable data on the survival rate of the rescued seals.

The sanctuary boasts an impressive record, aiming to rehabilitate all rescued pups. From 1981 to 2013, only four seals were deemed unlikely to survive in the wild and became permanent residents of the sanctuary. These long-term residents include seals unable to thrive in the wild due to health concerns or extended periods in captivity. Some of these resident seals share pools with the rescue pups, aiding during feeding times by demonstrating the best strategies for acquiring food.

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-The '''Cornish Seal Sanctuary''' is a sanctuary for injured seal pups, and is owned by The SEA LIFE Trust. The centre is on the banks of the Helford River in Cornwall, England, UK, next to the village of Gweek.
+[[File:Seal - Cornish Seal Sanctuary (15515580905).jpg|alt=Cornish Seal Sanctuary|thumb|Cornish Seal Sanctuary]]
+The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, owned by The Sea Life Trust, serves as a haven for injured seal pups. Located alongside the Helford River in Cornwall, England, UK, near the village of Gweek.
-The origins of the seal sanctuary go back to 1958 when the founder, Ken Jones, discovered a baby seal washed up on the beach near his home at St Agnes. This was the first of many rescues. By 1975, the work had outgrown the single pool at St Agnes and a new site was found at Gweek. The Gweek site slowly grew, and today has five pools and a specially designed hospital.
+In 1958, the founder, Ken Jones, stumbled upon a stranded baby seal on the shores near his home in St Agnes. This marked the beginning of numerous rescue operations. As the scope of their work expanded, a single pool at St Agnes could no longer accommodate their efforts. In 1975, they discovered a new site in Gweek, where the sanctuary gradually flourished. Today, it has five pools and a purpose-built hospital.
-On average the centre has between sixty and seventy seals pups in their care, and in 2018 over eighty have been rescued from the wild. Main reasons for a pup’s rescue can be because it is separated from their mothers and are unable to feed, or they can be entangled in marine litter. The aim is to release them back into the wild having given them the best chance of survival.
+On average, the sanctuary cares for sixty to seventy seal pups, with over eighty rescued from the wild in 2018 alone. These young seals are usually rescued due to separation from their mothers, rendering them unable to feed, or because they have become entangled in marine debris. The primary goal is to rehabilitate them, providing the best chance for survival in their natural habitat.
-The rescue normally starts with a call about an apparently abandoned pup. If the rescue team decide that the pup is in danger, it is captured and taken to the sanctuary. Upon arrival, a full medical assessment is carried out, and a course of treatment is decided. Many of the pups are malnourished, with infected wounds. When the seal starts to recover and gain weight, it is transferred to a convalescence pool, where it interacts with convalescing and resident seals, and learns to compete for its food. After a few months, when the seal has reached a good weight and is back to full health, it is released into the sea, preferably near where it was originally discovered. Before release each seal is given a flipper tag, and recently also a hat tag which falls off at the first moult. These provide useful information on the survival rate of the rescues.
+Typically, the rescue process commences with a report of an apparently abandoned pup. If the rescue team determines that the pup is in peril, it is captured and brought to the sanctuary. Upon arrival, a comprehensive medical assessment is conducted, guiding the subsequent course of treatment. Many of the pups suffer from malnutrition and infected wounds. As the seal begins to recover and gain weight, it is relocated to a convalescence pool, where it interacts with other recovering and resident seals, acquiring vital skills in food competition. After a few months, when the seal has reached a healthy weight and regained full health, it is released into the sea, ideally close to its original discovery location. Before release, each seal is tagged with a flipper tag and, more recently, a hat tag that falls off during the first molt. These tags provide valuable data on the survival rate of the rescued seals.
-The sanctuary aims to rehabilitate all rescued pups and has an impressive record. Between 1981 and 2013 only four seals have been considered as unlikely to be able to survive in the wild. They have joined the full-time residents at the sanctuary. The long term residents are seals unable to survive in the wild due to health reasons or just because they have been in captivity too long. Some of the residents share a pool with the rescue pups. They help at feeding times by demonstrating to the pups the best way to compete for their food.
+The sanctuary boasts an impressive record, aiming to rehabilitate all rescued pups. From 1981 to 2013, only four seals were deemed unlikely to survive in the wild and became permanent residents of the sanctuary. These long-term residents include seals unable to thrive in the wild due to health concerns or extended periods in captivity. Some of these resident seals share pools with the rescue pups, aiding during feeding times by demonstrating the best strategies for acquiring food.