A Remarkable Journey of a Seal Pup
A baby grey seal, affectionately named ‘Cold Call’, has made a remarkable recovery and was recently released back into the wild. This heartwarming story began when the pup was found by a postman on the doorstep of a house in Gorleston, Norfolk. The discovery took place on January 2 by Glen Palmer, who stumbled upon the young seal as it lay alone outside the front door.
The pup had been seen the day before in a car park, trying to protect itself under a car. At just weeks old, Cold Call was estimated to be in need of immediate care. After being taken to the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, the seal received the necessary attention and treatment from Dan Goldsmith of Marine and Wildlife Rescue.
Mr. Goldsmith described Cold Call as ‘bright and alert’, but noted that there was no chance of returning her to the beach due to her condition. She weighed only 11.8kg at the time, significantly underweight for her age. He explained that she had started to moult her white coat, which added to the challenges she faced.
After five months of care, Cold Call reached a healthy weight of 42kg and was deemed fit enough to return to the sea. The release took place at a north Norfolk beach, where she was joined by seven other seals. Mr. Palmer, who was unable to attend the event, expressed his pride in being part of her journey.
The RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre is known for its dedication to rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife. During this time, the centre cared for 30 other baby grey seal pups, many of whom were separated from their mothers due to severe storms in November. The centre manager, Evangelos Achilleos, shared his feelings about the release, stating that nothing compares to the joy of seeing an animal returned to the wild.
He highlighted the challenges involved in caring for seals, particularly getting them to eat independently. The road to recovery is often long, and Cold Call’s stay at the centre lasted five months. Despite these challenges, the work done by the team is incredibly rewarding.
This story is not an isolated incident. There have been numerous seal rescues, including one that captured the attention of many. In January, a pup made an unexpected appearance after escaping the dangers of Storm Chandra. It was found galumphing into a garden in Cornwall, leaving the residents of the home at St Loy, near St Buryan, in shock.
The seal, believed to be around five to six months old, managed to cross the beach, tackle the coastal path, and squeeze under the gate to enter the garden. Although it seemed like a peaceful escape, medics from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue South West England relocated the seal to a safer beach for its eventual release back into the sea.
These stories highlight the importance of wildlife rescue efforts and the dedication of those involved. Each successful release is a testament to the hard work and compassion of the teams working tirelessly to protect and care for animals in need.
