Starving pup searches in vain for her Mum. She is lucky to be rescued!

On 27th October, I arrived at the haul out beach to do my seal ID work, when I noticed what looked like a newborn pup on the beach. I was excited as I reached for my telescope for a closer view. Sadly what I saw was the size of a pup a few days old, but it was partly moulted. The juvenile seals that were playing on the water's edge were equally curious about the little white creature making strange noises on their beach. The pup was clearly hungry and was approaching any seal that came near it and attempting to get milk. The juvenile seals didn't seem to appreciate the bites they received and they responded by playing with pup and biting it back. I had never previously understood why rescued pups often have bite marks - I do now. Shortly afterwards, the pup followed the juveniles back into the sea.

Juvenile seal investigates pup (Left) : Pup tries to suckle juvenile (Middle) : Juvenile fends off pup (Right.)

Without any hestitation, I called Seal Sanctuary hospital and spoke to Maz, who agreed to be on standby should the pup return to the beach. Dave and Tim, the local BDMLR coordinators responded to my request for help immediately. The pup didn't stay in the water long and as soon as it looked settled on the beach, I rang Maz, who set out straight away. Needless to say 5 minutes before she arrived, Sue Waterhouse and I agonisingly watched the pup follow 2 other seals, that it obviously hoped were its Mum, back into the water! Maz caught a quick glance of the small pup swimming, before it disappeared completely. After an hour of watching and waiting, Maz had to leave. We all continued to search for the pup and within 10 minutes, medics Karl and Tim found it, hidden amongst some rocks at the other end of the haul out beach. Maz was contacted and she turned the landrover around and made her way back to us. Maz, Tim and Karl descended the steep cove and Karl provided rope support for Tim and Maz as they went down the dangerous loose area just above the rock band. Once on the beach they dodged the waves of the turning tide, located the pup and within seconds Maz had the pup in her arms and she and Tim made their way back to the cove exit.

The size of a few day old pup, but partly moulted (Left) : Maz immobilises the pup (Middle) : Returning to safer place (Right.)

Maz placed a feeding tube down the pup's throat & Tim gave the pup rehydrating fluid. He then took the pup's temperature before radioing the cliff top team with the news that the pup was well enough to be taken to the Seal Sanctuary at Gweek.

Rehydrating the pup (Left) : Taking the pup's temperature (Middle) : Radio contact with the cliff top team (Right.)

As the pup was small enough to be carried, it was not necessary to request the Coastguard assistance we have previously used at this location. Tied securely in a fabric sling, Maz and Tim passed the pup between them, as they climbed the rock spur that led onto the grassy cove slopes above.

Immobilising the pup in the sling (Left) : Great teamwork (Middle) : Even small pups become heavy on steep slopes! (Right.)

Karl took the weight of the pup, as the team negotiated the hardest part of the ascent. On easier ground above, the team were able to make rapid progress to the cliff top. Tim and Maz untied the sling to release the bemused, but alert pup.

Karl takes pup's weight (Left) : Ascending the cove slopes (Middle) : Releasing the pup from the sling (Right.)

A quick transfer to the cage and the pup was off on the first part of its journey to Gweek. Once in the Seal Sanctuary hospital, Elsie Mo was left alone to calm down and acclimatise to her new surroundings, before any clinical examination was performed. Elsie Mo had been howling for her Mum almost constantly from its first sighting on the beach, all the way through its journey to Gweek and when we visited very briefly in its isolation pen. A beautiful female pup, Elsie Mo is indeed much older than her size suggests. She is very lucky to have been rescued, as she was covered in bite marks, lumps & bumps. She may have been away from her Mum for up to 10 days & is not likely have survived many more days in the wild.

The alert pup transferred to the cage (Left) : Onlookers watch pup leave (Middle) : Elsie Mo still howling for Mum! (Right.)

Many thanks to:-

• Seal Group members who turned out to support the rescue.
• The Seal Sanctuary Team, especially Maz, and British Diver's Marine Life Rescue Medics for their quick response to my call for help.
• The Animal Care Team at the National Seal Sanctuary for giving Elsie Mo a fighting chance of survival!
• Seal Sanctuary staff and supporters who make this work possible.

Update : I'm very sad to say that Elsie Mo died at 4.20pm on 30/10/05, despite the best and considerable efforts of the Animal Care Team.

Remember, if you see a seal pup on its own, please do not attempt to touch it. It is essential to keep out of sight, watch for Mum and to call the Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221361 as soon as you can . They will then send out an observation or rescue team, as appropriate.