Animal charity faces 'challenges' with seal pups

The GSPCA said there would be added challenges with seal pups being born this year as its seal facilities were soon to be demolished

An animal charity said there was "added challenges" this autumn with seal pup season approaching.

The Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) said seal facilities on the Channel Islands were soon to be demolished to make room for its new Wildlife Hospital it plans to build.

The team for British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), who work in Jersey, said they could not "sit back and do nothing", adding it was trying to find somewhere "closer to home".

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said in the interim the charity would triage any pups at the shelter and it had contacted the RSPCA in the UK which would "hopefully help in their wildlife centres".

'Seek advice'

Mr Byrne also said last year was the busiest season it has "ever seen in its 151 years" with seal pups being born.

He said: "We once again start to see seal pups being born along our shores in the Channel islands and the GSPCA want to ensure they get the best start in life.

“It is so important when around our coast not to disturb seal pups and especially their mums as many casualties are due to mums being driven off beaches and the pups left to fend for themselves too early."

Mr Byrne said if anyone was concerned for a seal pup, they could seek advice on the GSPCA website or call its emergency number.

He added the charity released three seals this summer and over the last 12 years, it had helped 41 seal pups back into local waters.

The regional coordinator from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Donna De Gruchy, who works for the Channel Islands, said seal pup season was between October and January

The regional coordinator from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) Donna De Gruchy, who works for the Channel Islands, said people should leave the seal pups alone if they are "healthy".

“They have three weeks with mum, and they can go up to 30kg (66lbs) being born at 15kg (33lbs).

"If they are a good 30kg and they have a good reserve of fat, then we absolutely wouldn’t do anything," she said.

"It is only the ones that haven’t been fed by mum for the three weeks and are orphans starving.

"We can’t just sit back and do nothing."

'Fly them to UK'

Ms De Gruchy said with the new Wildlife Hospital being built and the delays, the BDMLR was trying to find somewhere "closer to home" or it would need to use the UK for rehabilitation.

She said it was in communication with RSPCA Mallydams Wood near Hastings who said it would take seal pups from Jersey.

"It does mean we do have to fly them over to the UK, we have civil air support that helps us, and we will probably be putting in a phone call to Blue Islands at some point."

She said people should not touch or handle the seals if they have washed up on the shore, adding people need to keep dogs on leads and children away to ensure the safety of everybody.

“They are so aggressive, and they have big teeth - you do not want to get bitten by a seal pup," Ms De Gruchy added.