Net
entangled grey seal pup found near Newquay, Cornwall.
30th March
Glenn Boyle, Curator of Animals at the National
Seal Sanctuary in Cornwall, contacted Coordinator Dave Jarvis on
the 28th regarding a net entangled seal that had been seen near
Newquay late in the day and reported to him. Apparently the net
was causing the animal some mobility problems, as it was wrapped
around its neck and dangling back around its foreflippers.
Acting on this information, Coordinator Tim Bain
and myself decided to search for the seal yesterday, the 30th, in
the area it had been seen. After exploring the many crevices and
caves on both sides of the beach Tim eventually located it in an
intertidal cove just next to the main beach. Access to the cove
was only possible via climbing over a rocky outcrop, and the tide
was only just low enough for us to dodge through a gully on to the
beach.
However, we were faced with a dilemma. Although
we had a towel and a stretcher to catch and carry the seal, it was
over a mile walk uphill back to the car park and we didn't have
a cage to transport it in. To make matters worse, mobile phone signal
on the beach was extremely poor, and the quickest way to get a decent
signal was to climb back over to the beach and back up onto the
top of the surrounding cliffs, but with it coming up to low tide,
we had to act fast if we were going to be able to rescue the seal
before the chance passed us by.
Deciding that
a chance like this may never occur again, Tim and I evaded the waves
(mostly), and got into the cove undetected - except 
for
a couple of adult seals that were taking great interest in us from
the safety of the surf. Tim readied the towel and we quietly skirted
the tide line to get as close to the seal as possible without alerting
it to our presence, and to cut off its escape route to the sea.
Rounding the outcrop, we expected the seal to be fairly weak and
unable to put up much of a fight. How wrong we were! Faced with
a set of large bared teeth, we resorted to the 'distract and jump'
tactic. While waving my welly-clad foot in it's general direction
but out of its reach, Tim circled around it to get into a good jumping
position, but the pup wasn't having any of it, seeming extremely
annoyed that we had disturbed it! Finally though, we prevailed.
With Tim now comfortably on the seal and with the head safely ensconced
within the towel, the minutes left on the clock continued to tick
down. Before jumping the seal, it was extremely obvious that the
animal was severely underweight, dehydrated and had ruckly breathing,
and after jumping, it was also very warm to the touch, leaving us
both very concerned about the young seal's possible other health
problems. We decided it would be best to get it to the National
Seal Sanctuary as fast as possible, so leaving Tim and the pup in
the cove (still closely watched by the two adults offshore) I raced
back over to the main beach and scaled the cliffs to call for assistance.
Coordinator Dave Jarvis responded to the call, and
he, with Medic Lesley Jarvis, picked up a cage from the Seal Sanctuary
as they were nearby at the time. Climbing back over to Tim, we secured
the pup in the stretcher and slowly but carefully carried the pup
over the rocks to the safety of the main beach, with a short stop
for a dunk in a rockpool to cool it down a bit. However, our problems
didn't end there. The beach was fairly flat, meaning that the turning
tide would soon reach us, so we carried the pup a couple of hundred
yards up the beach, about half its length. Once in a safer location,
we made a more thorough assessment of the pup's condition and removed
the net from around its neck. Apart from small cuts to the corner
of its mouth and on one of its rear flippers, the only other notably
injury was a long, shallow gash across the animal's neck caused
by the netting. We also recorded its temperature at 38.5C. To minimise
stress until the cage and the other Medics (Dave Jarvis, Lesley
Jarvis, Phil Jarvis, Bex Allen, Angela Nash and Mike Skelly &
family) arrived to help, we requested all nearby dog walkers either
gave us a wide berth, or put their dogs on leads until a respectable
distance away. Thankfully, all of them were more than happy to oblige.
Once most of the Medics had arrived, we transferred
the pup into the cage and began relays carrying it up the hill to
the car park, meeting with Mike and family on the way. Back in the
car park, the cage was loaded into Dave’s car, and he, Lesley
and Tim transported it to the Sanctuary, where he was named Gannel,
due to the nearby river of that name at the rescue location. He
weighed in at 27kg and is thought to be about 3 months old.
The latest news is that the ruckly breathing has
now developed into a cough, which he is being treated for, and his
temperature has come down into a more normal range (around 37.2C).
The gash on his neck has been thoroughly cleaned by the Animal Care
Team and should heal over quickly. He also continues to be a bright
and feisty little chap and is eating half fish already and will
be progressing on to whole fish later today (31st).
Medic
Dan Jarvis
BDMLR West Cornwall
(Newquay – Land’s End – St Austell)
-
More images on Image
Library -
Ingemar
the Hooded seal returns to Rehab ... this time in the U.S.
30th March
A
Hooded seal pup which was rescued last year (13th June) in the UK
has been re-rescued, this time on the coast of Maine, USA.
She
is currently at the Marine
Animal Lifeline rehab unit in Portland, Maine.
She is very underweight 35.6 kg and
has lost about a third of her hair. The loss does look due to be
some sort of stress moult. Though she is about 1 year old and should
be losing her juvenile blue/back coat for her adult black and white
very soon. She is dehydrated, so is being treated for this.
Oban SeaLife Centre have forwarded her
medical records, drug lists, blood results etc and have also advised
on her demeanor as she was a very quiet female, unusual for a hooded.
They have advised on how and what she was feeding also sent a photo
of when she first arrived here.
Her bloodwork returned fairly normal,
just dehydration. It is very early days but so far there seems to
be no reason why she cannot just be rehabbed and released to go
her own way. ( heaven only knows where she will go next)
Glenn Boyle from the National Seal Sanctuary
was informed due to his telephone number being on the tag.
I will keep everyone up to date as the
information comes through. She can be seen on the Marine
Animal Lifeline website under recent arrivals. This place has
a very good reputation, so I am sure she is in good hands.
We will all keep our fingers crossed
for her.
Jamie
Dyer - Scottish
Sea Life Sanctuary
|
Pics
of Ingemar - click image for larger size |
Rescue - 13th June 2004
|
Release - September 2004
|
Rehab - July 2004
|
2nd Rescue USA - 21st march 2004
|
Details of initial UK
rescue - 13th June 2004 - click HERE
Common
dolphin stranding at Lancing, U.K.
21st March
Brighton
Sea Life Centre contacted me at 3.15pm today (21st March) reporting
a live dolphin stranding at Lancing in West Sussex. Alan Knight
(BDMLR Director), Alec Anscombe and I departed the Uckfield office.
East Sussex WRAS rescuer and 2 day qualified Marine Mammal Medic
Maz Smith was already on way from Hove.
We arrived to find Maz and beach workmen helping the dolphin which
was identified as a common dolphin.
Trevor and Alec joined Maz in stabilising the dolphin while Alan
started sorting out an assessment. The dolphin's lumber muscle was
concave and there were several superficial wounds to the dorsal
fin, ridge of lower back above tail stock and tail. 
The breath rate was 8-10 per minute,
so the dolphin was move a few metres up the beach, to a better location.
It was also noted that there were several teeth missing on the lower
jaw.
The RSPCA and Coastguard turned up plus BDMLR medic Stephen Marsh.
Steve got his drysuit on and got stuck in helping.
Alan with the help of the RSPCA managed
to get a vet from Grove Lodge to attend. After guidance from James
Barnet, Alan Knight and notes in the Marine Mammal Medic Handbook
the vet euthanased the dolphin.
A more detailed examination after death
showed that most of the upper teeth were missing. It is thought
that the female dolphin was quite old. The body was take to a local
veterinary centre for Richard Sabin, from the Natural History Museum,
to collect tonight.
Trevor
Weeks
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service & BDMLR Sussex
Post Mortem
results :
The adult female common dolphin (NHM
ref: SW2005/65) was extremely underweight and heavily parasitised.
She also had a severe thickening of the thoracic spine (probably
degenerative arthritis), and had lost a number teeth, suggesting
she was quite old. To add to her list of complications, there was
a discharging chronic mucosal abscess in the back of the mouth at
the base of the larynx which may have compromised feeding. She had
stranded alive in extremis, and euthanasia was without doubt the
most humane option for her. Well done to all involved.
Re: tail fluke parasite. Looks like the common ectoparasite
(Penella sp.).
Best wishes
Paul D. Jepson BVMS PhD MRCVS
Co-ordinator, Marine Mammal Strandings Research
Zoological Society
of London
[ More
images of this stranding are in the Cetacean section of the Image
Library ]
Fraserburgh
Medics assist 'stranded' seal pup - Scotland
8th March
On Tuesday 8th March, a
call was made to Mark Stevens at BDMLR HQ by Grampian Police. Mark
contacted Aberdeenshire
Co-ordinator Kenneth McLennan and advised him to contact the police
for further information. The police reported that a seal pup was
stranded at the Westshore, Broadsea, Fraserburgh. The pup was reported
as being close to the car park and although the details appeared
accurate, Kenneth was some what confused as to why the pup would
be stranded. A group text message detailing the incident and location
was sent to all group members and Kenneth loaded his car with all
necessary equipment and proceeded to the location. Following a short
walk along the foreshore it became apparent why the caller had said
the pup was stranded, due to circumstances unknown the pup was balancing
at the edge of a very steep embankment effectively with nowhere
else to go. Assisted by a member of the public Kenneth distracted
the pup long enough to effect a recovery, with no visible signs
of injury we relocated the pup further along the shoreline to enable
easier access/release to the sea. On assessment the pup appeared
slightly underweight however very active, alert and responsive (as
most are) and no signs of injury or trauma was visible.
Many thanks to Local general public,
Grampian Police, BDMLR HQ, Kenneth McLennan - Group Co-ordinator
and all medics and volunteers that were on standby to assist.
Andrew
Ireland
Marine Mammal Medic
Fraserburgh Assistant Co-ordinator
Mersea
Pup Release
11th March
The
Grey pup Tony Haggis and I picked in January from Mersea came back
today. ( original rescue details HERE
)
Keiran brought it down from Hunstanton, unfortunately he got caught
up in traffic and arrived 45 minutes later than we had hoped.Tony
Haggis, Andy Rutson Edwards, Claire Hooker and myself met him. We
loaded the seal onto my boat and took it out to the colony, unfortunately
due to the time lost the tide had covoured the saltings which made
the release a little more dificult, however we managed to get the
crate onto a bit where the water only just came over the top of
Andys boots. We let the seal out and it seemed a bit bemused but
soon got its bearings. We watched it for a short while then left
it to its own devises, as we left some of the commons were going
to check the new arrival out.
My thanks go to Kieran for looking after it for the last few weeks
and also for bringing it back. It is a fantastic feeling to release
back into the wild one of the many seals we have rescued, it makes
it all worthwile.
Leon
Woodrow - Essex Assistant Coordinator
Images and
Video by Andy Rutson-Edwards ( click images for larger size
) |
|
Video of Release
37secs ( 1.5Mb )
WMV File
click HERE
to view
|
|
BDMLR
at London International Dive Show
The weekend of March 5/6
saw the London International Dive Show (LIDS) being held at ExCel.
As usual BDMLR had a stand, with all new display by Stephen Marsh.
Visitors were able to see
something of the work carried out by BDMLR and to discuss issues
with a knowledgeable crew !
Many
many people were able to loose some ugly winter £s too. During
the weekend a total of £523.59 was raised for the work of
BDMLR.
I
would like to thank everyone involved, especially Steve Vernon for
his fearless bucket shaking and to all those who gave donations.
It was hard work as the show seemed a little slower than usual,
it being Mother's Day and all.
Also, thanks
to Trevor Weeks from WRAS
for his time and use of their vehicle.
I would like to finish by thanking Oonasdivers
for the donation towards to cost of the stand. Fenland Contractors
for help with building it and visitors for their continual support.
Right, that's that out of the way!! I've booked the NEC stand for
October folks!! Whose up for it???
Mark Stevens
Director BDMLR
click
pics for larger sized images ( more images on Image
Library ) |
|
|
|
Three
Rehabed Dolphins released - Florida
8th March
Mote
Marine Laboratory has released the three remaining Rough-toothed
dolphins which stranded 6/8/04.
Essex BDMLR
Coordinator sent me the following text and images direct from Mote.
Faye was at Mote when these dolphins were starting their rehabiliatation.
Dolphins were all
released about 18 miles east of Ft. Pierce, FL yesterday (3rd March)
morning at about 10:30 am. All three had satellite transmitters
and we are already receiving data from all three animals. Last night
late, all three were together about 50 miles east of Melbourne,
FL. 5/3 The three dolphins are still together and are headed NNE.
They are about 100 miles east of Jacksonville, FL. 3/7 Dolphins
have turned more east and are not moving such great distances now.
Last full report still had them all together.
|
click images for larger size |
Volunteers Charlie and Kevin from Mote Marine
Laboratory in Sarasota release one of three rough-toothed
dolphins Thursday 26 miles off Fort Pierce. Coincidentally,
a pod swam aground Thursday near Marathon Key. It's too
soon to tell whether the stranding is related to the one
in August.
|
Members of the media riding on a St. Lucie
County Sheriff's Dept. boat photograph two of the rough-tooth
dolphins, marked with satellite tags, after they were released
into the Atlantic, 18 miles offshore of Fort Pierce. AP
image
|
For the latest
news click - HERE
and choose bashful, sleepy or sneezy
Florida
Mass Stranding
8th
March
Conversation
with Florida MMC worker Debbie Arnold - 8th March 00.15hrs GMT
I
contacted the MMC in Florida tonight to wish the staff and volunteers
all the very best luck with the huge job they have on their hands.
Debbie went and passed on these thoughts from BDMLR direct to the
volunteers in the water tonight. The very latest news direct from
Florida is : they have 21 dolphins alive at MMC, Mote also have
two. Both Mote and the MMC had stillborn calves born on the 7th.
Both the mothers appear to be doing 'OK'. Currently the mother of
the stillborn calf and a mother and live calf (approx 2yrs) are
in a separate pool together. The other animals are in a relatively
shallow sea pen. On the 8th they plan to move the majority of the
animals into a deeper 'canal area' which is approx 16ft deep and
30ft wide. This incident is being dealt with as a short term rehab
and release. Once the 2 or 3 blood tests give the 'OK' from the
NMFS they
hope to release the majority of the animals together. Debbie said
that at one point ealier in the stranding they had 'so many' vets
in one room from many different organisations. They all left their
'egos' at the door and worked together superbly. For the latest
news, check the MMC site HERE.
Tony
Woodley - BDMLR Online
Video
news report - HERE
Essex
Adult Seal Rescue
1st March
At about 2pm Leon Woodrow called me
to say that there was an adult Grey Seal on the beach at Jaywick
in Essex. The seal was being thrown around in the surf and was groaning.
I contacted Sue at BDMLR HQ and she started to mobilise medics and
equipment. I arrived at approximately 3.30pm and by now the tide
was going out and the seal was lying on the beach. We could get
within a few feet of it before it made any attempt to move. It was
a fully grown female, she was underweight and having great difficulty
breathing. Every time she took a breath she was groaning with pain
and was coughing up a thick white mucous. Over the next hour her
condition deteriorated and we decided it would be unfair to transport
her all the way to Norfolk in the pain that she was in. We were
also fairly certain that she would not make the journey. After consultation
with James Barnett it was decided that the kindest thing to do would
be to euthanase.
I would like to thank Leon Woodrow,
Andy Rutson Edwards, RSPCA Inspector Jim Farr and all of the Marine
Mammal Medics who turned out to help. Also big thanks to Sue at
the office for spending all afternoon contacting medics.
The body is going to Paul Jepson at
the Institute of Zoology for post mortem. Thanks to Gavin Parsons
for transporting the body.
Faye
Archell
BDMLR Essex Coordinator
Photos
and video by Andy Rutson-Edwards - click images for larger
size |
|
|
Phone/video clip
55secs - 415kb
click HERE
to view
(requires
Quicktime)
|
Back
to Home page
