Rescued seals returned to the wild

THREE baby seals, including one badly injured by a boat’s engine, kick-started their lives again at the weekend.

Weekend walkers in Waterford and Cork witnessed the mammals’ return to the waters. There was special affection reserved for a four-month-old grey seal, Finbarr, who yesterday completed a Lazarus-like recovery from a horrific propeller injury.

Pauline Beades of the Irish Seal Sanctuary said the animal welfare group was amazed at Finbarr’s improvement and delighted to see his return to the water at Tramore yesterday.

“He is really just a big fat pup but the injuries he came in with were quite horrendous,” she said.

“It is really amazing the recovery he has made and with a little bit of special care and antibiotics how well these seals can do. It is fantastic to see him back in the wild so quickly.”

Finbarr returned to the water at 2.30pm yesterday with only a scar to show for his altercation with a boat propeller that almost cost him his life.

Two other baby seals were released in west Cork after a recuperation period at the Irish Seal Sanctuary at Garrettstown, north Dublin. Kate and Yapper had been found stranded on beaches near Skibbereen at the start of the grey seal birthing season. “I think the people who rescued them got a shock to see what were perfect little pups a short time ago come down as big seals now,” said Ms Beades.

So far, the sanctuary has had a busy season with 52 seals rescued this winter.

Last year was a record year, with heavy storms washing 80 starving baby seals onto the shores over both the grey seal and harbour seal birthing seasons.

However, despite more settled weather, Ms Beades said a steady rate of rescues means it could yet be another record grey seal recovery season.

Rescues traditionally peak over the Christmas period with more people out walking on the shoreline and spotting seals in distress.

However, Ms Beades urged people not to panic or intervene themselves if they see a baby seal stranded. She said people should not put pups back in the water if they find them, because they are normally on rocks for a reason and it may just mean their mothers are hunting for food.

Anyone concerned about an animal can ring the sanctuary on 01 8354370.