Orphaned seal pup being cared for by charity

A Guernsey animal charity says it is caring for an orphaned common seal pup which, despite its name, is a creature rarely seen around the island.

The 10kg (1.5 stone) pup is believed to be no more than a couple of weeks old and was spotted between the bathing pools and the site of the old aquarium by the GSPCA's head of marine mammals Geoff George on Monday.

There was no sign of its mother and "the decision was made to rescue the pup due to concerns for its welfare and weight".

George said: "Common seal pups are incredibly rare visitors to Guernsey and this little one is underweight for its age. When we arrived there was no sign of its mother and it was clear the pup needed assistance."

The last common seal pup which needed rescue washed ashore in poor condition in 2018, the GSPCA said.

Unlike grey seals, which are often seen in local waters, they are seldom born in Guernsey and the animals which arrive "have often travelled considerable distances and can be exhausted, underweight and vulnerable," according to the charity.

The team at the GSPA planned to asses the pup's condition and oversee its recovery.

Common seals are one of two native species and can swim almost immediately after birth. They rely on their mother's milk during their first few weeks of life and can become weak and dehydrated rapidly if they do not feed regularly, the GSPCA said.

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne added: "Although this young pup is very underweight, we are hopeful that with expert care and monitoring it can regain strength."

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