VIDEO: Rescuers save smallest seal to wash up on Jersey shores in a decade

Tuesday 21 November 2017

A seal pup suffering from a head injury found stranded at L’Etacq this weekend was the smallest to wash up on island shores in 10 years.

The tiny pup, which weighs just 11.5kg, was spotted by a member of the public in the secluded area of Petite Plemont on Saturday.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) medic Clive Armstrong rushed to the coastal scene where he found the poorly pup and saw that it was both underweight and suffering from a serious head injury - but it swiftly swam away before he could help it.

 Video: The injured seal pup was caught on camera before being rescued over the weekend. (Clive Armstrong)

It fortunately re-emerged on a mound of seaweed at L’Etacq the following day, and the crew – Mr Amstrong along with fellow medics Dave Scambler, Carole Stockhill, Andre de Gruchy and Jessica Harris – were able to intervene.

Their rescue mission was organised by BDMLR Jersey coordinator Donna De Gruchy, who was in Liverpool at the time, but coordinated the mission by text.

Pictured: The seal pup was rescued from L'Etacq on Sunday following a failed attempt on Saturday afternoon.

The little mammal has now been transported to New Era Vetinary Hospital where it is receiving antibiotics for its head injury and treatment for dehydration and malnutrition.

It will remain there for a few more days before being transported by Blue Islands flight to Guernsey, where another unwell pup was collected yesterday morning.

Pictured: This weekend's rescue pup is currently being nursed to health by New Era vets.

The spotting was the second this month, as the BDMLR enter their ‘busy season’, with wash-ups often prompted by stormy weather. 

Four seals were spotted in the second week of November. One had sadly passed away, but the remaining three – one of which was as young as two weeks old - were in healthy condition.

Pictured: The two week-old pup that washed up earlier this month.

In a post on Facebook stating that “seal season” is “in full swing”, New Era reminded islanders not to approach if they spot a seal in Jersey, but to instead contact the JSPCA on 724331 or the Environment Department on 441600.