"Determined" seal pup flown to UK after east-coast adventure

Tuesday 31 October 2023

A seal pup that was separated from its mother - and made it halfway up a hill on the east coast in search of her - has been flown to the UK for rehabilitation.

The pup was initially spotted behind St Catherine's Breakwater, prompting members of the local branch of British Divers Marine Life Rescue to keep it under watch.

It was initially hoped that the mother might return, but the team suspect she could not access her pup through the rocky reef and gullies at low tide.

Evidently tired of being battered by waves, the newborn made its way to a nearby slipway in Fliquet Bay, came ashore and – unbeknownst to its observers – travelled halfway up a hill.

Pictured: The seal pup made it halfway up a hill near the Fliquet slipway. (BDMLR Jersey)

It was found under a car in someone's garage and taken to the New Era veterinary hospital.

Usually, Fliquet – believed to be just a few days-old – would have been transferred into the care of Geoff George, head of marine mammals at the GSPCA.

However, as the Guernsey facility is currently undergoing refurbishments, the BDMLR team needed to get the pup to RSPCA Mallydams in the UK.

Fortunately, a UK registered charity called Civil Air Support, which uses volunteer pilots to offer air support for agencies or individuals, was able to provide a flight.

Pictured: Fliquet was flown to the UK thanks to the Civil Air Support charity.

Donna de Gruchy, the Jersey co-ordinator for BDMLR, said she was surprised at how far the "determined" pup had travelled.

"Obviously with the big tides this weekend it was bound to happen."

She added: "We are grateful to Civil Air Support for providing the transport and also to the RSPCA for finding a space."

Pictured: Fliquet the seal pup. (BDMLR)

Commenting on the pup's east-coast adventure, she said: "You don't expect that at all, but he was on a mission to find food and his mum."