‘Lethargic and dehydrated’ seal pup rescued from the shore of Loch Fleet
AN orphaned seal pup was rescued earlier this month in a heartwarming, coordinated operation at Little Ferry on the north east shore of Loch Fleet in Sutherland.
The Scottish SPCA received a call about a common seal pup that had been spotted around 80 yards from the bird hide. After searching for around 30 minutes without success, the team expanded their search to other areas.
Fortunately, just as the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) team were about to leave, the pup was found lying in a hollow. It appeared lethargic and dehydrated.
After conducting a visual assessment, the team took the time to observe and monitor the seal while the tide slowly came in, just in case the mother was still nearby and likely to return to her pup.
Local birdwatchers provided a timeline of when they first saw the pup, which confirmed that it needed to be rescued.
Weighing only 9.7 kg and estimated to be three or four days old, the pup was cared for by BDMLR overnight on June 17 and transferred to the Scottish SPCA the following morning for ongoing care at their National Wildlife Centre.
Seal pups are left alone on the shore by their mothers while they forage at sea, returning to feed the pup. However, in some instances, based on the body condition and age of the pup (if known), a decision must sometimes be made to ensure the pup receives help before it deteriorates further.
