Seal hospital seeks funds for storm-rescued pups

A seal rescue centre is appealing for funds to take care of sick and injured pups after Storm Darragh left them treating six mammals at the same time.

The Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre looks after 200 animals and also runs a hospital for ill and abandoned seal pups at its Lincolnshire premises.

Manager Chloe Drew said thousands of pounds were needed as they were facing rising medication, food and vet bills to treat and care for the six grey seal pups which were born at Donna Nook and had arrived at the centre as a result of the storm last week.

"Three have got bad injuries, so they're requiring quite intensive care to hopefully get them back to full health," she said.

"Seals cost anywhere between £2,000 and £5,000 depending on how long they're with us and how much treatment they need."

Ms Drew said Storm Darragh had led to some of the seal pups being washed up at various coastal locations having been forcefully separated from their mothers.

All were left requiring "round the clock medical treatment", she said.

Three pups had serious eye infections and one had an infected wound to its face.

"Six is all we can deal with at the moment because they've got such complex needs that they are taking up more time than if they were healthy, but just separated from their mum," she said.

"Three out of the six have got bad infections so they're having to have extra cleaning, extra medication.

"We want to concentrate on giving these the best care they need."

Ms Drew described it as "a very emotionally exhausting job" and said daily food bills, plus heating, energy and treatment costs meant the centre needed £30,000 to "get them back to full health and released into the wild".

"It costs about £25 a day to feed each pup. Then there's the vet visits, all the medication. It easily takes up hundreds or thousands of pounds," she said.

"Seeing that they're not feeling very well, it's emotionally draining. It's a very difficult job to do."

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