Seal pups enchant rescue centre staff

ANIMAL welfare experts at a Scottish wildlife centre are caring for their first rescued grey seal pups of the season.

One was rescued in Aberdeenshire while the other was recovered from a beach in Thurso in the Highlands.

The Scottish SPCA expects to look after more than 100 grey seal pups of various ages over the course of the autumn and winter season.

This season, pups cared for at its centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, will be given Harry Potter-themed names and the first two have been named Harry and Mad-Eye.

Centre manager Colin Seddon said: “We received our first seal pups, Mad-Eye and Harry, on November 2.

“Harry is around three to four weeks old and Mad-Eye is between four and five weeks.

“Harry was brought to us by the British Divers marine life rescue team after he was found with several wounds and an infected flipper in Boddan, Aberdeenshire.

“Mad-Eye was found on Dunnet Beach in Thurso. As his name might suggest, he came to us with a collapsed eye which will have to be removed.

“We often do release seals with one eye, so we are hopeful Mad-Eye will still eventually enjoy a full life in the wild.”

Rescued seal Harry is being cared for at the wildlife centre in Fishcross