Newborn seal pup rescued after being found abandoned on Black Isle
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An abandoned premature seal pup in the Highlands has been given a fighting chance of life thanks to a member of the public and marine mammal medics.
The pup, just a few hours old, was spotted on the slipway near the North Kessock Hotel by the Beauly Firth and the alarm was immediately raised with British Divers Marine Life Rescue, a frontline charity responding to marine mammals in distress.
Natasha Wallis, a skipper with boat company Dolphin Spirit, and crew member Debbie Cole, who are marine mammal medics, went to the rescue along with Dave Macdonald, the Inverness area co-ordinator for the charity.
It was the first seal rescue for Mrs Wallis who thought that if the pup – a common seal – had been left much longer, its chances of survival would have been greatly reduced.
"It was spotted by a member of the public who was pulling his boat out of the water," she said.
"It was 20 minutes after high tide.
"It still had the umbilical cord attached. There was no sign of the mum and it was very lethargic."
It also appeared to be premature.
Mrs Wallis said that seal pups need to feed every couple of hours and reckoned it could have been on its own for three hours.
"It probably would not have survived the day," she said.
They wrapped it in towel before it was put in a van to be transported to a specialist rescue centre near Dundee where it will be assessed and hopefully gain its strength.
"So long as it gets fed, I don't see why it should have a problem but it will be up to the rescue centre to do an assessment," said Mrs Wallis.
She said pups being abandoned by their mothers were not generally a common occurrence but it could happen if they were disturbed, or the pup did not follow the mother into the water.
Anyone who spots what they think is an abandoned seal pup, or marine mammal needing help should call 01825 765546.
