The Seal Ordeal!

Winter...tis often a much calmer and quieter affair here at Stapeley.  A time for doing jobs we are often too busy to do during spring and summer. A time of catching up, tidying up, stocking up.  A time to restore, reorganise and recharge. But this year our winter serenity has been short lived...we have had the calm before the storm...literally.

If you have read or seen the news recently, you will probably be aware of the terrible storm surges which happened recently in Norfolk, resulting in vast numbers of grey seal pups being washed up, washed out and separated from their mums. The RSPCA East Winch branch is currently caring for 100 grey seal pups! One hundred!!! Here at Stapeley, we have a very modest 6! A minor group in comparison, yes, but they have certainly kept us on our toes ever since their arrival!

    

The 6 seal pups came to us just over a week ago aged less than three weeks, and still covered in their fluffy white/yellowish fur coats (pictured above left). They have since moulted these furry coverings (pictures below) and are now velvety grey with varying shades of speckles on them. At the hospital, the seals are reliant on the staff to feed them regularly; 4 times a day at the moment. Christmas we know is a costly affair, but even more so now! Five weeks of fish for 6 seals will cost us £2000! In the wild, they suckle fatty rich milk from their mums and would put on nearly 1.5 kilos in weight a day! They would then be abandoned by their mums just after they have moulted and weighing in at approx.40 kilos.

Presently, whilst in our care, they do not have the fat reserves to warrant being released back into the sea. So it is our job to feed them up so they reach a good weight and are able to lay down blubbery reserves. Ours currently weigh in at approx. 26-28 kilos.

The seals certainly take some handling when we are tube feeding them fish soup. We have to straddle and grip them to keep them steady. We are all after one week, achy, stiff and with thigh muscles of steel! The sounds of the seals when you walk down the corridor, is not dissimilar to a labour ward...lots of grunting, snorting and huffing!

  

As a newer member of the team here at Stapeley, I have had a very fulfilling week. I am being trained by experienced staff in the handling and safety of working with seals and in the correct use of equipment. Today I got to use a seal net for the first time, as we moved one of our weightier seals from indoors to an outdoor pool (pictured below). The fun continues and will do so for many more weeks. (I just hope my thighs can take the strain).  

If you would like to help us in the care of the seals, we would gladly receive any unwanted towels, blankets and bed linen. Alternatively, if you have £5 to spare at Christmas, please text SEAL02 £5 to 70070 and help feed our fishy friends. Any donations are always truly appreciated and gratefully received. Thank-you.

And check out this recent report by Lee Oliver: http://youtu.be/bHI7QLX_H0o

By Lynsey Cale

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