A tiny seal pup washed up at Walpole Bay has been rescued thanks to swimmers from the Margate Women’s Institute and medics from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue {BDMLR} organisation.
The underweight male pup is thought to be just seven days old and likely separated from his mum due to the recent stormy weather.
The WI mermaids, who meet daily all year round for a morning swim, found the seal near the car park this morning {December 10}
British Divers Marine Life Rescue medics, including Thanet’s Mark Noone, arrived and were able to collect the seal.
BDMLR medic Sheila Stone said: “It was an underweight male grey seal pup, approximately seven days old as it still had some of its Lanugo (white fur it is born with). He weighed 14 kgs.
“He was probably separated from mum due to the storms and rough seas and had come up the slipway onto the road and was in danger of being run over. Some of the WI managed to shoo him over to the side by the pavement.
“He would have been exhausted from the rough seas.
“Medics were called at 6.30am to assess and due to his young age and low weight, it was decided to lift and take him to a rehabilitation centre.
“This is the first grey seal pup this year. The pupping season usually runs from December until March in Kent.”
If you see a stranded marine mammal please call BDMLR on 01825 765546 option 1 and they will send a medic out to check.
A very nice outcome, congratulations to all involved.
Well done everyone great to see, and hopefully he has a long lifespan now once he has got a full belly and lots of TLC.