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A seal pup found at Rocco Tower last weekend has been rescued and transported to Cornwall for rehabilitation.
A team from British Divers Marine Life Rescue recovered the pup – which has since been named Whiskers – after he was found struggling on the beach by islander Anthony Bisson and nephew Judah last Saturday.
The male pup was found to be dehydrated, underweight at just 18kg, and suffering from bite marks and a “painful abscess” near his hind flippers.
Pictured: Whiskers was flown to the BDMLR Cornwall Seal Hospital for continued treatment. (BDMLR)
Volunteers transported Whiskers to New Era Veterinary Hospital, where he received fluids, antibiotics, and further care.
Once stabilised, the pup was flown to the BDMLR Cornwall Seal Hospital for continued treatment.
He will later move to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary to complete his rehabilitation, following in the path of ‘Pearly Caterpillar’ — another seal pup rescued in November.
Seal pups from the Channel Islands are currently being sent to the UK for care due to the temporary closure of the rehabilitation site in Guernsey.
Speaking to Express last month, BDMLR Jersey shared its hopes of eventually establishing a dedicated seal hospital in Jersey.
At the time, BDMLR Channel Islands coordinator Donna Gicquel-de Gruchy reflected on the challenges of managing seal rescues without local facilities.
“Without any facilities in Jersey available to us as a volunteer rescue team, we would have little to no options for Jersey seal pups and rehabilitation,” she explained.
However, a recent collaboration with the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter has provided a temporary solution.
Tom Noel, the new CEO of the JSPCA, has made space available on the shelter’s grounds to house seal pups.
While the arrangement is in its early stages and JSPCA staff are not yet directly involved in seal care, the partnership has eased pressure on New Era Veterinary Hospital.
Pictured: "Team Jersey are hoping to get to a point where we can keep the pups in Jersey and with the help of the JSPCA we are getting so much closer." (BDMLR)
Mr Noel said: “The JSPCA is delighted to support the BDMLR and New Era in seal rescue facilities in the Channel Islands.
“This has been a fantastic opportunity to test our processes, learn and ensure that we'll be even better prepared when the next seal lands on our shores in the future.
‘We look forward to continuing to work closely together in the future and remain excited to hear about how Whiskers progresses and hope for a successful release in due course.”
BDMLR Jersey has thanked local pilots Jasmine Clarke and John Windows for volunteering to transport Whiskers to Cornwall, as well as to Age Concern for providing storage for the mackerel used to feed rescued seals.
Islanders who come across struggling seal pups are advised to stay back, avoid putting the animal back in the water, and keep dogs on leads and away from the seal.
Anyone who spots a distressed marine mammal should contact the JSPCA on 724331 or via their out-of-hours number at 07797 720331 to alert the BDMLR team.
Pictured top: Marine mammal medics Anel, Gail and Jenson. (BDMLR)
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