Injured seals found at Hook Lighthouse on road to recovery
TWO seal pups found in poor health at Hook Lighthouse are being nursed back to health at the Seal Sanctuary in Courtown.
Bottlebrush the seal was spotted on the grass area outside the walls of the lighthouse earlier this month. He is one of ten seals rescued by the Seal Sanctuary, since Storm Brendan - all of which were born this year.
Sam Brittain, the sanctuary’s Animal Care & Research Manager, said: ‘Bottlebrush was very sickly with congestion and a deep painful cough and it is suspected that as he was being washed about in the storm conditions he may have aspirated some seawater which can damage the lungs and cause pneumonia. He is recovering but is still in our ICU away from the public eye where he can get the best rest.’
Another seal pup found near the lighthouse three days after Bottlebrush. The seal pup was weak and a Gorey resident who had completed a tour of the lighthouse with his family took the seal (Dogbane) in the boot of his Volkswagen Passat after Noel put him in a covered fish-box.
The malnourished pup has been getting the best of care at the sanctuary.
‘Dogbane is quite underweight for his age and suffering from congestion and also some stomach parasites so he may have had to come in regardless of the storm, but we are glad he was rescued. He too is recovering slowly in our ICU and usually the seals will remain here for about a week before moving to the kennels where they can be seen by the public. The best thing to do if people are interested in seeing these seals is to call ahead and check in. We will advise if seals are available to see,’ Mr Brittain said.
‘This has added strain to our rescue centre as we were already busy from December which is our peak season for seal pup patients.
‘At this time of year we would usually expect our intakes to be lessening and the seals recovering and getting ready for release. It is unfortunate the seals have had this extra challenge in their first few months of life this year.’
Both seals were christened after an indigenous Australian tree in keeping with the Seal Sanctuary’s policy of calling all rescued seals this year after Australian trees due to the bush fires ravaging the country.