Malnourished Grey Seal Pup Rescued from Jersey Beach

A grey seal pup, described as “exhausted, hungry and dehydrated,” was successfully rescued from a beach in Jersey. British Divers Marine Life Rescue Channel Islands (BDMLR CI) announced via Facebook that the pup, discovered in Bonne Nuit harbour, had a weight comparable to that of a newborn, despite being estimated at three to four weeks of age. The rescue team assigned the name Rocky to the pup and hypothesized that he had become separated from his mother prior to weaning, consequently lacking a crucial fat reserve. Initially, Rocky’s prognosis was deemed “bleak”; however, he was transported to New Era Veterinary Hospital, where he received essential fluids and is currently recovering favorably. The BDMLR said: “Grey seals do not seek out human interaction, but this pup knew even though there was a small crowd of people on the beach that he needed to haul out and rest.” “He hauled himself up the beach as his finders stood back, got dogs under control and called us straight away. He then fell into a deep sleep.” Given the absence of a dedicated seal facility on the island and the temporary closure of the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for refurbishment, the BDMLR team has been actively seeking a suitable new home for him. “All the offers of help and sites have been hugely appreciated. We did have a plan in place, and through no fault of our own, we are disappointed to say this fell through,” the BDMLR stated. The organization further mentioned that Rocky is “doing very well with blended mackerel soup daily.”