Roar and California Girl the seal pups ready for the wild and likely last two pups to be housed in the current pools #BIGBUILD

The GSPCA are excited to announce that Roar and California Girl will soon be released back into the wild and are very likely to be the last seals to be cared for in the current facilities.

To see VT’s of the seals and our work please visit https://youtube.com/shorts/1EuW3XU87wQ?feature=share  

Geoff George Head of Marinee Mammals said “Roar and California Girl who were rescued the end of last year and when rescued were only 15kgs, very dehydrated, thin, had infections and full of worms at a similar age of a month or so old so really should be three times the weight they were are doing very well

“They are currently in our pools we still have at the GSPCA which we will lose when we start our big build.”

“Both pups have roughly quadrupled their weight from when we rescued them and doing so well we hope to release them in the coming days.””

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “Geoff and the team have done such an incredible job caring for Roar and California Girl.”

“Both seal pups were so close to perishing when rescued.”

“They have done extremely well and have loved our pools at the GSPCA which will soon be removed to make way for the BIG BUILD and new Wildlife Hospital.”

“With them doing so well we are preparing them for their release back to the wild which will take a total of 43 grey seal pups back to local waters since 2012.”

“We are of course excited to tell you more but we do not advertise details when we release wild animals to ensure we can reduce any challenges or potential stress as they are returned to where they belong.”

“With preparations under way for our BIG BUILD Roar and California Girl look like to be the last two seal pups that will be cared for in these facilities after decades of helping seals and other animals.”

“We are due to knock down our current seal facilities to build new so we did reach out to the RSPCA to see if they could help.”

“Although they did help us pre 2012 they have informed us that for a number of reasons from large numbers of seal pups in their care already to other concerns they won’t be in a position to help us for the foreseeable future so we are now looking at other options to help the seal pups needing our care while the build takes place.”

“As we have our preferred builders we are now in negotiations with we are hopeful for a quick turn around for Roar and California Girl ahead of the new build but we are reaching out to anyone who thinks they can help with certainly this and next years seal pup rehab.”

“Some of the current wildlife building have started to come down and although we have areas for triaging the seal pups but it is the pool stage we will not have and this is when we get the weight and fitness into each pup to ready for the wild.”

“We are looking at options but anyone that think they could help we would love to hear from them.”

“We are coming to the end of the years seal pup season, but we do have lots of details online on what to do if you do see a seal in trouble, but the easiest is just call 257261.”

“In the 12 years we have now released 41 back into local waters.”

“We are very busy at this time of year with wildlife and are now very close to selecting a building firm for the new Wildlife Hospital so it is highly this season of seals we are looking for help in the UK for their rehab while the build takes place but we will of course stabilise them here.”

“This will be the BIGGEST Build in our history and we really need your support and to find out more please visit https://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-biggest-build-appeal .”

There are many ways to help us help the seal pups and their future and here are a few ideas –

• Donate to their care https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)
• We are in need of fresh mackerel and herring
• Please support the new Wildlife Hospital to replace the current building https://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-biggest-build-appeal

If You Spot A Seal Pup

If you find a seal pup that looks FIT AND HEALTHY and it shows no signs of distress, you may consider monitoring it from a safe distance for 24 hours. Unfortunately, too many seal pups get taken into captivity because people think they have been abandoned. If the mother does not return within 24 hours, we would ask you to contact 01481 257261.

A healthy pup looks like a big, stuffed maggot without a neck. However, a thin pup looks sleek (but not bony) and has a visible neck, like a healthy dog.

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE SEAL. They can give a nasty bite, which will become infected by bacteria that live in a seal’s mouths.

Note: Do not allow dogs or other animals to harass a seal.

If a seal is scared back into the water, it could then be washed out to sea by strong currents and be lost. You should not put a seal pup back in the sea as it may get into difficulty.

If a seal pup is sick, thin or injured then we would ask you to contact our 24-hour cruelty and advice line

When reporting an injured, sick or abandoned seal to the GSPCA, please make sure you are able to supply the following information:

• Exact location; nearest town / village
• Position on the beach, and state of the tide
• How long you have observed the pup; any disturbance / risk to it; whether the mother has been seen
• Any wounds / obvious signs of illness
• Length/colour/condition.

Caution:- Handling of any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous. Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues. Common sense should be applied in all instances and, if unsure, seek additional advice or assistance. Personal hygiene should be taken into consideration after handling any animal, whether it’s domestic, wild, dead or alive.

For any questions please contact 01481 257261

Please remember and keep your animals and pets safe during the high winds, especially those that are kept outdoors.

Here is a table of the seals we have helped back to the wild and those in our care -

To see some of the previous stories about seals please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/tag/seals .

Some grey seal facts -

• Population numbers since 1960s have doubled
• A grey seal pup weighs 14kg at birth
• A grey seal pup mothers milk contains 60% fat
• Grey seals can dive to a depth of 70m
• Another name for a grey seal is the horsehead seal
• Grey seals are found in the waters surrounding Europe, Russia, North America, and Channel Islands
• Grey seals can be found in estuaries, inter tidal zones, brackish water, polar and shallow seas
• There are 18 known species of seal in the world
• Many sick seal pups need tube feeding every 2-3 hours day and night on arrival
• The seal pups in our care once eating will consume 20-30 herring or mackerel each day
• We aim for a release weight in excess of 40 kg, with good weather and a remote location
• The GSPCA has returned 41 seals back to the wild in the last 12 years

For advice on what to do if you see or find sick or injured wildlife please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice or call 01481 257261

To videos of the seal pups and other animals please visit https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuernseySPCA

Steve continued “To make a donation, find out more or support our BIGGEST BUILD Appeal please check out https://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/biggest-appeal-ever-gspca-big-build-appeal-buy-brick-build-brighter-future-animals-guernsey .”

“There are many ways to support the work of the GSPCA.”

“Our BIGGEST event is our Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday on the 18^th May and for details check out https://www.gspca.org.gg/page/animal-welfare-sea-front-sunday .“

“We have guided tours this weekend and to book you place check out https://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-half-term-februarymarch-2025-guided-tours-next-weekend-book-now-see-exciting-plans-animal and we have the GSPCA Cupcake Week in May https://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-cupcake-week .”

“To become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor donating each month to help the hundreds of animals in our care which you can do by downloading this form - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf or to become a Corporate Angel Pen Pal form for your business to sponsor animals in our care each year please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Corporate%20Angel%20Pen%20Pal%20sponsor%20formnew.pdf .”

“You can also make a donation to help the animals in our care, please go to https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)  .”

“You can also donate by calling  01481 257261, by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey GY6 8UD or popping up to the Shelter in St Andrews.”

"For lots of ways to support our work please visit https://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-celebrating-150-years ."

“To visit our facebook page check out this link please click here .”

“To visit our x page please click here .”

“Thank you for your support.”