Seal pups released back into Jersey waters

Seal pups named Didier, Maya, Faulkner and Jem were released back into Jersey waters on Saturday

A pack of Jersey seals has been released back into the sea after being cared for in Guernsey.

The Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) said the seals were transported by Condor Ferries to Jersey and were released at Anneport Beach on Saturday.

The charity said it was the first time in five years that it had been able to release seal pups back into their home waters.

It thanked the BDMLR charity and the Jersey and Guernsey States vets for assistance in releasing the seals, named Didier, Maya, Faulkner and Jem.

The seals were rescued and cared for by the GSCPA

The charity said it had saved a record number of seals so far in 2024, which manager Steve Byrne said had been the "busiest season in 151 years".

He said: “We weren’t planning on caring for seals long-term this season and we have a number of challenges.

“In the last decade, we have released 36 grey seal pups back into the wild with this weekend's release, six in Jersey and 30 in Guernsey.”

The GSPCA said it rescued Faulkner and Jem in November 2023, followed by Didier and Maya in January.

All of them "doubled, tripled or even quadrupled their rescue weight" in care, staff said.

Geoff George, head of marine mammals, said the release went well and that "all four pups didn’t waste anytime getting back into their home waters".