Seal pups Eden & Trinity at the GSPCA in Guernsey have their first dip in the pool
Submitted by GSPCA on 17:01, 4th Mar, 2014 |
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Seal pups Trinity and Eden who were rescued after being found extremely emaciated at only 17 and 13kgs when they should have been around 40kgs in weight had a very exciting afternoon today.
Both seals have roughly doubled their weight since being rescued in January and battled off a number of ailments, so today were introduced to the large pool here at the GSPCA.
Eden now at 25kgs and Trinity at 31kgs had very different approaches at entering the pools but once in started having a great time.
Eden who was much quicker and confident, while Trinity took time approaching and entering the pool are both enjoying splashing and swimming about.
Geoff George who rescued Trinity near the Fairy Circle and Eden from the slip way next to Castle Cornet was overjoyed with the seals reaction to the pool.
Geoff George said 'What a great today has been watching the two seal pups for the first time in the pool.'
'It was much easier getting Eden to the pool than Trinity, but now their in I don't think we'll get them out!'
'We're some way off getting them to a weight that they can be released, but we'll get there.'
'Hopefully later this month or early next month they will be ready to go back to the wild where they belong.'
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said ''It was a wonderful sight seeing Trinity and Edens first dip, and that they get on so well.'
'We are going through buckets of fish and if anyone would like to support their care then please visit our Just Giving page or over the phone on 01481 257261.'
'With the seals out in the pools as we have the one way glass we are hoping to be able to take short controlled visits around the Shelter and will of course announce those dates when we are happy they are settled.'
'We were very grateful toRossborough Insurancewho made a donation to help care for the seals and improve the facilities earlier this year which has been a fantastic help.'
'The improvements are great but the room itself will need a revamp after Trinity and Eden are released and we would like to enlarge the big pool.'
'If there is someone who would like to sponsor the project we would love to hear from them.'
To donate to seabirds and of course Trinity and Edens Big Fish Appeal please call 01481 257261, pop along to the Animal Shelter in St Andrews, by post or by clicking the link below.
The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus, meaning "hooked-nosed sea pig") is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae or "true seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus. Its name is spelled gray seal in the US; it is also known as Atlantic grey seal and the horsehead seal
Grey seal adults may be up to 2.5 metres in length and weigh up to 250kg, with males tending to be larger than females.
Trinity was 17kg on entry and Eden 13kg which was more than half the 40kg they should have been for their age.
Male grey seals reach sexual maturity at 6 years, Females at 3 to 5 years and the latter give birth to their pups in the Autumn and early Winter.
Typically the first British pups are born off the Scillies and Cornwall in August and September and the time of pupping is progressively later as you move clockwise around the British Isles, the latest pups being born off the east coast of Scotland in late December.
Trinity is likely to have been born mid December and Eden two or three weeks later.
At, birth, grey seal pups weigh about 13 kg. and are covered in long, creamy white hair. A bond is formed between mother and pup at birth, and a mother can recognise her pup from its call and smell. For the first 3 weeks of their lives, pups rarely swim, suckling from their mothers 5 to 6 times a day, for up to 10 minutes at a time. The mothers milk is rich in fat and the pups rapidly put on weight.
Both Eden and Trinity were just about three weeks when they were brought into the GSPCA.
The mother tends to remain just offshore between suckling bouts and rarely feeds, losing up to a quarter of her body weight before her pup is weaned.
Grey seal pups are weaned after losing their baby coat at 3 to 4 weeks of age. At this point, they weigh 40 to 50 kg; three times their birth weight.
We will of course keep you up to date with Trinity and Edens progress and keep your eyes open for pictures and videos.
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