NEWS FEED
Two rehabilitated common seals have been released back into wild.
Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) and the RSPCA have released two common seals back into sea in Poole Harbour, after they had been cared for the by the team at the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre since August 2016.
Both the seals were tagged before their release, so their survival can be monitored in the wild. Since the release 2 weeks ago, DWT has received reports of sightings of one of the seals.
One seal was originally found in Jersey. It weighed around 11kg on admission and 40kg on release. The seal had been orphaned and had received some bumps and bashes, but quickly made good progress.
The other seal was found at Chapman’s Pool, near Swanage and weighed just 8.7kg, but was released weighing 36kg. It had a badly infected mouth and some other minor injuries. The seal was very sickly, and so thin its bones were visible.
Bel Derring, Centre Manager at the RSPCA’s West Hatch Wildlife centre said, “At first they were eating fish soup with help from the staff at the Centre before feeding themselves fish in our specialist rehabilitation pools. Both seals passed their final vet checks with flying colours, were tagged and we released them on the Dorset coast. We know from previous experience that they are able to return to familiar waters on their own and felt it would be good to for these two inexperienced juveniles to be released together.”
DWT worked with the RSPCA to find a release site, and will monitor the seals’ progress.
DWT’s Marine Awareness Officer, Julie Hatcher said, “We now have the tag details so we can record the seals from sightings as part of our Dorset Seal Project. We’ve also set up a ‘seal cam’ so we’re hoping to spot them on there. It was such a special moment when the two seal pups went into the water together, to explore their new home.”
DWT is appealing to members of the public to report any Dorset seal sightings, with photographs if possible but stresses the importance of not disturbing seals by trying to get too close. Details of sightings to be forwarded to kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk or, via DWT facebook/dorsetwildlife or Twitter @dorsetwildlife.
