Sperm
whales refloated - Holland
The article
below from SRRC Pieterburen annual report makes interesting reading.
Two Sperm whales were rescued November 2004 after they became stranded
on a sandbank close to the island of Terschelling in the Wadden
Zee.
An interesting option if the circumstances are suitable ?
Ross
Flett - Orkney Seal Rescue
click
the image below
Seal
Pup stuck in rocks - Orkney
30th November
Late yesterday (29th) afternoon I received a report
from a local farmer, beach-combing with his son, that a grey seal
pup was stuck in between some rocks on the west side of South Ronaldsay,
Orkney. As it was getting dark and I knew that the seal was located
at the bottom of a cliff I decided that an attempt to rescue that
evening would have been far too dangerous. I arrived at the location
early this morning and after some searching managed to locate the
pup well and truly stuck in between some very large rocks. Armed
with a large bar I made several attempts to prise to rocks apart
to free the seal. With the incoming tide I had to abandon my attempt
and wait for the tide to ebb at mid day as I was in danger of getting
swamped by the very large waves breaking on the shore. As the tide
was ebbing I made a few more attempts to free the seal and had to
give up as I was making no progress in trying to pull the seal from
the position it was in. Disheartened I made my way back to the top
of the cliff only to come across the farmer who had reported the
seal. With an offer of extra help we returned to the pup and managed
to move the rocks sufficiently to release the pup which was still
alive and was moved on to a grassy area above the high water mark
to recuperate. As the pup was on a beach that would have made it
impossible to retrieve without a harness and ropes I decided to
leave it there and return in the morning to check it out.
Ross
Flett
Director - Orkney Seal Rescue
Images
by Ross Flett - click for larger size |
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Update
on the mass Pilot Whale stranding at Opoutere.
[ report received
- 07.30hrs GMT, 30th November ]
A total of 74 short finned pilot whales stranded on this lonely
beach at Opoutere. 53 were already dead and 21 were still alive
when found about 36 hrs ago, we were successful in refoating 18
whales just as darkness was decending last night.
Three were too weak to release with the others, so this morning
we focused on saving those. It was touch and go at first and it
didn't look too good at all, but after we spent some time in deeper
water rocking them, we released them to see what they would do.
We had more than a few concerns at first but then gradually two
of them found their confidence and started to swim off strongly
around 11am shadowed by a D.o.C. RIB.
Unfortunately the last one was very weak and did not seem to want
to go, swimming back to the beach trying to re-strand. So after
some further effort, the hard decision was made, and this whale
was euthanased at midday .
The decision to release just as darkness approached breaks a few
rules, but with discretion being the better part of valour, the
call was made by D.o.C based on the fact that the stress of yet
another night would have been too much for them thus lowering their
chances, and they had to go while the going was good. It was proved
to be the right decision and it paid off.
Department of Conservation did aerial and sea searches for them
today and they have not restranded anywhere else. In fact D.o.C
couldn't find them. So it's looking good.
Still, we saved 20 out of the 21 that were alive when found and
we feel the operation was a success in anyone's book.
Images
received via Brian Thomas's phonecam direct from the beach |
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Sperm Whale stranding.
Today we have had another stranding of a single large bull sperm
whale on Auckland's rugged west coast.
This time it's a single Sperm Whale, This one is at Karekare, 35
minutes drive west of Auckland, the same place as the mass stranding
of 12 Sperm Whales in November last year.
Unfortunately it has died during the day.
I was just leaving Opoutere after finishing up with that stranding,
178 kms from Auckland, when I heard about the sperm whale stranding
and was heading straight for Karekare to assist with this one. By
the time I got close I heard a report it had died.
We have had one or two single sperm whale strandings on that stretch
of coast over the past year, but they were dead prior to stranding.
We are coming into our stranding season now, so the 'grab bags'
are being kept handy at all times now.
Cheers,
Brian
Thomas - Project
Jonah Whale Rescue.
[ Press Item - HERE
]
[ Another Press Item
- HERE
]
New
Zealand - Mass Stranding of Pilot Whales
29th November
Hi,
Project
Jonah Whale Rescue has just been called out to a mass stranding
of Pilot Whales.
Info at this stage is 20 alive, 60 dead.
It is at Opoutere Beach, south of Pauanui in the Bay of Plenty.
Exactly halfway between Pauanui and Whangamata, and If you're looking
on the map, it's at the base of the Coromandel Peninsular's east
coast. The Coromandel P' is east of Auckland on the map.
I'm just about to leave now and have a three hour drive ahead of
me, so will try to send PXT (camera photos) if the signal is good.
Will keep you updated.
Cheers (or not so cheery)
Brian
Thomas - Project Jonah.
Time here is 19:30 Monday. ( GMT/UTC +12hrs )
[ NZ Press Article
- HERE
]
Final
update on Snowflake and others whilst we were there
27th November
"Snowflake" was uplifted from
The BDMLR Resource and Rescue Unit at 10.00 hrs today Nov 27th after
being rehydrated and washed down before commencing her journey to
SSPCA Middlebank, Inverkeithing, by Elaine Roft / Darren Mann /
Bob pert - BDMLR Montrose team. Upon arrival she was weighed in,
although the BDMLR Montrose and Tayforth teams have reservations
about this reading and questioned if the scales had been calibrated
as the pup weighed in at 11.2 kg!!!. Montrose and Tayforth weighed
her yesterday and virtually had the same readings - 17kg and 16.5kg
so we presume that the SSPCA's scales are off balance or not calibrated
correctly. "Snowflake" was given reference number 1260
and renamed "Sirrius" by SSPCA Staff. 240mls of Lectade
plus was administered and she was placed in a dry seal pen with
a heat lamp. She will continue on Synulox antibiotics meantime to
rid her of her congestion. The staff were satisfied that although
deeply congested she was in good body condition apart from a few
minor lesions that were treated with alamycin spray.
UPDATES ON FRASERBURGH / CRRU - BDMLR / SEALS - Whist we were there
Fraserburgh Co-ordinator Kenneth McLennans seals (originally named
Sammy and Poppy) are all doing fine, and CRRU / BDMLR / Cameron
McPersons seal pups transferred from Laurence Brains (named Jinny
and Dudley by SSPCA) are coping, considering the pitiful state they
were in when found and uplifted. They are still drastically underweight
with the bones clearly visible through the skin.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
click
images for larger size |
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Snowflake
Update
November 26th
08.00 hrs and Montrose Co-ordinator
Elaine Roft along with Volunteers Darren Mann and Paul Horne arrived
back on scene to see how the pup had faired overnight. On arrival,
"snowflake" was swimming around in a small rock pool and
finally hauled out back to its resting place on the high tide line
at 08.15 hrs. Today the pup had a thick yellowish discharge coming
from the nostrils and sounded deeply congested. A tent was erected
for the team and monitoring resumed from 08.30hrs - 14.45 hrs with
breathing rate being monitored regulary following BDMLR James Barnetts
advice over the phone. Initially the respiration rate was 17bpm
which fluctuated up and down throughout the day between 17 and 14
finally stopping at 12 when the footpath was clear from passers
by etc. Rebecca Chambers arrived later with a set of weighing scales
and the pups weight reading was taken (17kg) allowing 1kg either
way since we were on uneven ground.Sex was also determined as being
female. At 15.00hrs, the team made the decision based on the pups
weight and nasal congestion to uplift it and have it checked by
the local vet. Ian Anderson from Robsons veterinary practice confirmed
that the seal had respiratory problems, possibly a touch of pneumonia
and whilst there was wheezing in the lungs, this was not severe.The
naval was clear from infection. 1ml synulox was administered and
the pup was then taken to BDMLR resource and rescue unit at Broughty
Ferry by Paul Horne and Darren Mann (Montrose) for its overnight
stay. It was rehydrated with 200mls lectade plus and the weight
checked again reading in at 16.5kg. "Snowflake" will be
transported to SSPCA Middlebank by Elaine, Darren and Bob tomorrow
morning (saturday 27th).
Many thanks to Hazel Littlewood and
Mandy Boys (Inverbervie) for their vigils until we arrived on scene
again today, Montrose Medic Rebecca Chambers for provision of weighing
scales, Ian Anderson of Robson Veterinary Hospital, James Barnett
for telephone advice, Ross Flett (Orkney Seal rescue) for enquiries
and Gareth Norman (Tayforth Co-ordinator) for helping Montrose volunteers
to rehydrate on arrival.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
Pictures
Credit - Elaine Roft ( click images for larger size ) |
Snowflake |
Snowflake |
Paul Horne and Darren Mann
having a tea break on scene |
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First
Grey seal pup for Montrose team
25th
November
Local
Gourdon Dog walker (Hazel) called Montrose Co-ordinator Elaine Roft
at 4.27pm alerting her of a seal hauled out on the high tide line
mid
way between Gourdon and Inverbervie, displaying what appeared to
be a long white fluffy coat. Although it appeared bright and active,
hazel wanted a professional opinion. Montrose volunteer Paul Horne
responded to the call and reported back that the seal was a semi
moulted Grey, bright and just wanting to sleep. Medics Elaine Roft
and Bob Pert arrived on scene to join Paul at 7.30pm taking with
them a maglite kindly offered to them by local Ferryden resident
Ian Falconer. Upon inspection the eyes were fully open, rounded
clear and bright, the gums were healthy and pink in colour and the
pup was in good body condition with the naval being clean, and no
presence of discharges from the nose, ears or mouth. The only causes
for concern, were 2 small penny sized lesions to the left and right
sides and an encrusting on the bottom right side of the pups lip
- which may have been caused by the continual scratching by the
pup during its moult. It also sounded congested (nasally) like it
had the onset of a cold. It was decided by the team that the pup
should be left in its resting place overnight where it was quite
content and happy with monitoring for presence of mum resuming at
first light. If after 2 full tidal cycles, there is no sign of the
mother, then it was agreed that the seal named "Snowflake"
should be uplifted and taken to local vets for examination before
being accommodated at SSPCA Middlebank where a pen was provisionally
booked for it.
The pups eyes
in the picture do not appear as rounded, clear and open as they
were. The photo was taken after its continual scratching at eyes
and face which was covered in tiny stones from the shingle. [ click
image for larger size ]
An update to follow........
Thanks to Hazel
for notifying us, and to Ian Falconer for the Maglite.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
Divemaster
makes large donation .... again !
23rd November
BDMLR
has just received yet another donation from one of our main sponsors
.. Dive Master Insurance Consultants
Ltd. The company, which provides BDMLR's insurance services,
has donated back to BDMLR the equivalent of it's premiums .....
a massive £4276.46 !
Dive
Master Insurance Consultants Ltd is one of BDMLR's top sponsors
and has been assoiciated with BDMLR for many years.
A
huge thanks to Bob Archell ( Divemaster Ins Ltd - Managing Director
) and his colleagues for their generosity.
Please
visit their website at : http://www.dive-master.net
BDMLR
Directors
Seal
Pup Rescue - Boddam, Aberdeenshire
21st November
Late on Sunday
evening a call was received by Aberdeen Co-ordinator Nick Duthie
regarding a seal pup
at Boddam Harbour, however due to circumstances Nick was unable
to attend the call. Nick contacted Fraserburgh Co-ordinator Kenneth
McLennan who set off for Boddam which is approximately 20 miles
south of Fraserburgh. On route Kenneth contacted several other medics
and volunteers but none were available to attend. On arrival at
the scene Kenneth was meet by Mr Elliot and family whom were the
members of public that had found the seal and tried to report it
to several organisations and was told that it would be dealt with
in the morning. Feeling disatisfied with this outcome Mr Elliot
contacted The Highland Wildlife Hospital Trust who in turn contacted
BDMLR. After assessment, the decision was made to uplift the pup
due to it's very thin appearance. The pup named 'Sammy' was then
taken to Fraserburgh for re-hydration and an overnight stay before
again being re-hydrated in the morning and transferred by Nick Duthie
to the Dundee Unit. 'Sammy' was finally relayed on to Middlebank
later that day. [click image for larger size]
Many thanks
to Mr Elliot and family of Boddam and once again to Grampian Police.
Also thanks
to The
Highland Wildlife Hospital Trust who in turn contacted BDMLR.
Andrew
Ireland - MMM ( Fraserburgh Asst. Coordinator
)
Seal
Rescue - Friday 19th November
23rd November
At 1330hrs on Friday I was contacted
by Sue (BDMLR HQ) and asked to collect a baby seal that someone
had picked up from the beach at Seahouses (north east England).
After a 70min drive from Sunderland the seal was collected and placed
in a vari kennel for transport to Mary Carruthers' Seal Centre in
Tynemouth. It was identified as a 2 week old whitecoat male pup
from the farne island. It had a 2inch (approx) long deep wound,
possibly from a knife or sharp implement on it's neck. The person
who contacted BDMLR was warned that it is not safe to pick up seals,
nor is it sensible to approach them, remove them or place them in
a bath.
The 1st informant is a local painter,
and now would like to donate some of his work to raise funds for
BDMLR.
Pics to follow
Regards
Graeme
Richardson
BDMLR South Shields/Sunderland/Seahouses???
Stranding
Exercise / Scotland
23rd November
BDMLR teams from Aberdeen / Montrose / Dundee were
invited to attend a Dolphin Stranding Exercise on Broughty Ferry
Beach, Dundee, Scotland on November 21st outside the BDMLR Resource
and Rescue Unit. This was a fine opportunity to put the new dolphin
pontoons to the test which are housed in the RU2 trailer stationed
at Broughty Ferry for the Scottish teams to use. The Co-ordinators
agreed that the strandings exercises should be carried out frequently,
with a view to having them at different locations that the teams
cover. The Fraserburgh team have their own set of dolphin pontoons,
so it made little sense for them to travel South to join us for
this particular exercise, especially with the weather conditions
being bad.
Many thanks to those who attended.
Elaine Roft - BDMLR Montrose Area Co-ordinator
Bob Pert - BDMLR Montrose Deputy Co-ordinator
Thom McNeil - BDMLR Montrose Medic
Darren Mann - BDMLR Montrose Volunteer
Sue Horne - BDMLR Montrose Volunteer
Paul Horne - BDMLR Montrose Volunteer
Gareth Norman - BDMLR Tayforth Area Co-ordinator
It is hoped that a future date can be set for all the Scottish Co-ordinators
and their teams to attend a mass strandings exercise which will
enable those doing their advanced MMM Courses a chance to carry
out the various tasks required.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
Successful
course on the Isle of Wight provides complete cover for the Island
22nd November
A very successful but cold day was spent on the 20 November. The
day started well in the warm surroundings of the Yaverland Sailing
Club, Sandown. 19 brave volunteers all sat down with a fresh coffee
or tea for the start of the lectures. BDMLR Director Alan Knight
gave the first lecture followed by more tea and coffee before Faye
Archell leapt into the second set of lectures. Whilst this went
on Director Geoff Hammock was setting up the animals and equipment
for the afternoons practical session.
He was eagerly assisted by Southern area coordinator Martyn Dean,
Isle of Wight coordinator Dave Evans and medic John Simmonds.
After thawing themselves out they returned to the club for a fantastic
buffet lunch of vegetable lasagne and chilli con carne all provided
by the sailing club. (many thanks to John Young and his team).
The afternoon
started with horizontal rain and a freezing NE wind that never really
stopped for the rest of the day. While the students were put through
their paces, Alan Knight presented Dave Evans with a complete medic
box for the Island. The sailing club had generously donated the
venue to BDMLR and so it was felt only right that in return a medic
box should be stationed with Dave for the Islands use.
The beach instruction continued with newly trained medics from the
mainland, Rachel Lillywhite and Jennifer Taylor, who not only assisted
instructors Geoff Hammock, Faye Archell and Director Bob Archell
with the practical, but taught the last sessions as well.
I would like to thank everyone for standing in the cold rain for
the afternoon. When the events on the beach were over, everybody
had hot showers back at the club and more coffee and tea while the
debrief was carried out and the qualifications handed out.
A grand day was had by all and I can not thank all those who participated
enough.
Special thanks to Dave Evans and John Simmonds for the running around
and arranging of the island side of things.
Yaverland Sailing club for the excellent venue.
Red Funnel Ferries for their helpfulness and donation of our crossings.
(April Walker is a star)
Due to these outstanding volunteers the Isle of Wight now has a
fully competent group of Marine Mammal Medics.
Many thanks
Martyn Dean
Southern area coordinator.
Second
attempt to catch seal / Aberdeen / Scotland
November 21st
At 15.45 hrs, Aberdeen Co-ordinator
Nick Duthie was back at The Victoria Bridge,Torry, in Aberdeen,
Scotland, monitoring the common pup reported to him via Montrose
Co-ordinator Elaine Roft on wednesday (which took to the water when
Nicks torch light hit it) The Montrose team who were returning from
a dolphin stranding exercise were on standby to assist with a relay,
and a pen was prepared at the BDMLR Resource and Rescue Unit in
Broughty Ferry. The pup, which appears to be a juvenile was hauled
out on the slipway, but with conditions being hazardous due to the
falling of snow and the tide in Nick decided it would be best to
abort the operation for the evening. Nick was of the opinion, that
the common juvenile was not a rehab case, but if possible should
be uplifted, rehydrated and checked over by a vet after showing
signs of lethargy. A patrol will resume again tomorrow (monday)
at first light, and hopefully the seal can be caught and transferred
to the BDMLR Unit for assessment.
Thanks to Aberdeen University Students
for their help with patrols.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
( On behalf
of Nick Duthie, Aberdeenshire Co-ordinator.)
click
images for larger size |
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Devon
Pup Rescue/Relay
20th November
At 3.45pm today
I received a call direct from Dave Illingworth (Coastguard) at Hope
Cove, south Devon, that there was a small black seal on the beach
in the exact same place as the Devon
Pupwatch had taken place four weeks ago. Dave had put a strip
of Coastguard warning tape across the slipway and told a couple
of dog walkers to keep away from the seal.
I was on duty in Devon (RSPCA Inspector)
and able to go directly to the site. I alerted the National Seal
Sanctuary at Gweek, Cornwall, who said they would be happy to receive
the pup if necessary. I also called Arie den Hollander (Plymouth
BDMLR Coordinator) to let him know that I may need some assistance
later.
Arriving at just after 5.00pm at the
dark rainswept beach I walked down the slipway and found the pup
on the seaweed. This male pup was about 4 weeks old and very underweight.
He didn't appear at this stage to have any injuries. The pup was
bundled into the vari-kennel in my van and I set off to meet Arie
at Plymouth to give the pup some fluids and a check over.
At 6.15pm I met Arie at the Police station
at Charles Cross, where Plymouth BDMLR store their Medic kit, and
we had a small audience of bemused PCs watch us deal with the pup.
Lectade was made up in the Police station kitchen with many jokes
being made about the seal by the officers .... mostly about the
smell of fish !
Arie's wife, Marilyn, arrived just in
time with the digital camera and set about giving the pup the fluids
via a stomach tube and then checking him over. He was quite bright
and reasonable hydrated. We did find that his rear left flipper
had a puncture over the joint and some inflammation.
I then left with the pup and at 7.30pm
met RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Felicity Cross at the Safeway
at Liskeard, Cornwall. We transferred the pup and she took him on
down to Gweek.
I hear that he arrived at the Sanctuary
just after 9.00pm. When I spoke with Selina at the Sanctuary we
agreed that he would be named 'Dart' as the theme this year is rivers
... well.... he was from Devon and River Dart is not that far from
Hope Cove.
Many thanks to Dave Illingworth, Arie
and Marilyn den Hollander, staff at Charles Cross Police Station,
Felicity Cross and the Seal Sanctuary for their help in this smooth
pup relay.
Tony
Woodley - Exmouth BDMLR Coordinator/BDMLR OnLine/RSPCA Inspector
pics
by Marilyn den Hollander - click images to enlarge |
Health - check |
Fluids being given |
Puncture & swelling
over joint |
|
|
|
21st
November : Update from Glenn Boyle at the Seal Sanctuary. - Pup
weighs just 12.5kgs and rear flipper (see pic above) is severly
infected. Hopefully the infection won't reach the joint. Otherwise
the pup is doing fine.
Aberdeen
call-out
18th November
November 18th
Montrose Co-ordinator Elaine Roft received an e-mail from John F
Robins of save our seals. It appeared that Pam Burnett and Rodger
from SEPA in Aberdeen had reported a seal pup in the Torry district
of Aberdeen under the Victoria Bridge appearing to be either dead
or very lifeless. Elaine Called Aberdeenshire Co-ordinator Nick
Duthie at 15.51 hrs, giving the details. Montrose Medic and Volunteer
Bob Pert and Paul Horne were on standby to assist with a possible
relay, and Gareth Norman Tayforth Co-ordinator advised to keep an
overnight pen free should the pup still be alive and in need of
treatment. Elaine provisionally booked a pen at SSPCA Middlebank
for Friday morning. Nick scouted the area again after initial patrols
found no sign of the pup. It was confirmed at 20.30 hrs by Nick
Duthie that he had located the seal, lying high in the grass on
the high tide line, and it immediately fled to the water having
been disturbed by the torchlight. Nick and his team will patrol
the area and monitor the commons that frequent this particular area.
Thanks to all
at SEPA in Aberdeen, Aberdeen Medics, Montrose Medics, Tayforth
team, SSPCA Middlebank for keeping a pen available.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
( On behalf
of Nick Duthie, Aberdeenshire Co-ordinator.)
Scotland
- Broughty Ferry Pup rescue
17th November
November 17th Tayforth Co-ordinator
Gareth Norman uplifted a semi weaned Grey seal pup from Broughty
Ferry Beach, Scotland which was reported to him by members of the
public and Dundee Ranger Service. The pup weighed 17.5kg, had a
swollen lower jaw and the eyes were crusty. Montrose Co-ordinator
Elaine Roft was called at 17.30 hrs to see if she could relay the
pup to SSPCA Middlebank as Gareth was unable to leave the unit,
pending calls for seal pups at Kingsbarns in Fife. Montrose deputy
co-ordiantor Bob Pert uplifted the Grey seal pup from the BDMLR
Resource and Rescue Unit at 19.30 hrs arriving at Middlebank at
21.10 hrs. He was met by SSPCA worker Alexis, and the grey pup was
named "Hedwig" and given its reference number on intake.
Elaine Roft was on standby to assist Gareth and his team at Broughty
Ferry if the Kingsbarns pups were uplift candidates.
Thanks to Dundee Ranger Service, Montrose
Co-ordinator Elaine Roft, Montrose Deputy Co-ordinator Bob Pert,
SSPCA Inspector Mark Lumgair, SSPCA Central Control, Alexis from
SSPCA Middlebank, local resident (Ian Falconer fro use of his phone
when we ran out of money!) Edward for attending the 2 pups at Kingsbarns
in Fife, and to Shandwell Wildlife Rescue Trust Members Steve Cochrane,
Michelle Penny.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
( On behalf
of Gareth Norman BDMLR Tayforth Co-ordinator )
Beluga
Update
17th November
As most of you are aware the Marine
Connection were successful in having two beluga whales confiscated
from Sharm el Sheikh where they were being kept in unsuitable conditions.
The beluga whales are now being held
in a facility called Merryland and whilst the pool area they are
now being housed in is larger than the cramped holding pool in Sharm,it
is not suitable to hold the animals there for any amount of time.
Margaux Dodds, Director & Co-founder of the Marine Connection,has
been advised that they plan to hold the two beluga whales at Merryland
for approximately 3 months before returning them back to Russia.
Please email the relevant authorities,
demanding that the two whales from Sharm el Sheikh are returned
to Russia as per assurances given to the Marine Connection by Dr
El-Fellaly of CITES in Cairo. Further details can be found on our
hompepage by clicking on the Beluga Latest box.
www.marineconnection.org
Liz
Sandeman
The Marine Connection
Some
sad news from our friends at the Hillswick Sanctuary in Shetland
[sent in by Ross Flett]
17 November, 2004
THREE seals were killed in a fire at a wildlife
sanctuary in Shetland yesterday morning (Tuesday).
The grey seals were being looked after by Jan and
Pete Bevington, at Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, at the north end
of the Shetland mainland.
The couple returned home after spending the night
in Lerwick, the Shetland capital, to find their main seal unit full
of smoke.
“We opened the door and smoke billowed out
of the building,” said Mrs Bevington yesterday afternoon.
“We are absolutely devastated. Three seals
were in the unit at the time and they all must have suffocated.
We can hardly believe this has happened.”
The fire brigade were called out but the fire had
already extinguished itself by the time they arrived, though the
building had been extensively damaged by fire, smoke and water.
Sixty per cent of the roof was destroyed.
Mrs Bevington said: “We were really lucky
that the whole building didn’t burn down. The fire melted
some overhead plastic water pipes and the water was pouring down
when we arrived. That must have put the fire out. Otherwise we would
have lost the whole building.”
The three seals were only brought into the sanctuary
last weekend after a fierce gale washed a many young seals off their
pupping grounds and into Ronas Voe, a large sea inlet near Hillswick.
“We spent the whole weekend rescuing seals
and bringing them to safety. Seven were big enough to be left in
outside pens, but three we kept indoors to keep warm and dry. And
then this happened. It’s a real tragedy.”
Mrs Bevington, who started looking after seals in
1987, said they had been out at an anniversary dinner for the Shetland
Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG), who work closely
with the sanctuary.
“It’s very rare that we spend a night
away from the seals. It’s awful that this should have happened
on the one night we were out.”
She said she
thought the fire may have been caused by a heat lamp used to keep
the seals warm. The fire spread through most of the building and
burned through the roof at one point before it was extinguished.
[
topic on BDMLR Forum is open concerning this item ]
Sandhaven
Seal Rescue
14th November
On Sunday morning
a call was received at BDMLR-HQ from Grampian Police concerning
the report from a member of the public that a Seal 
pup
was seen close to the coastal road, these details were then passed
to Fraserburgh Coordinator Kenneth McLennan and a search of the
area was initialised. Various group volunteers were also notified
to assist for the search due to knowledge of this area of coastline
being fairly long and rugged. Forming groups with radio communications
we commenced the search and after approximately 90 minutes the pup
was found.
[click
image for larger size]
She was located
relatively close to the road but very well camouflaged in between
a lot of rocks. Kenneth carried out a general assessment of her
condition and taking into consideration her location and close proximity
to the main road the decision was made to uplift. Contact was then
made to ‘Fairview’ Vet’s of New Deer for a possible
placement and Lawrence confirmed that transportation to his practice
would be fine. Kenneth contacted Andrew Ireland and arranged for
him to transport the pup to New Deer. On completion of Armistice
Sunday duties, Andrew and a few local cadets loaded the resting
seal in to the car at Kenneth’s house for relay to New Deer.
The cadets decided that our pup should be appropriately named ‘poppy’.
Many thanks to the vigilant members
of the public, Grampian Police and Lawrence Brain of New Deer.
Andrew
Ireland - MMM
Fraserburgh
Asst. Coordinator
BDMLR
Medics and Volunteers clean local beaches
15th November
British Divers
Marine Life Rescue Medics and Volunteers cleaned 3 areas of (Scottish)
beach this month.
A 3/4 mile stretch of beach at Kinnaber (North)
was cleaned on November 6th. Twenty four bags of rubbish were collected
along with 4 tyres an oil drum and several large pieces of plastic.
Around 1800 items of rubbish were collected including 392 plastic
drinks bottles, 116 plastic bottle lids/caps, 63 pieces of rope,
207 pieces of small plastic, 90 pieces of larger plastic, 136 pieces
of polystyrene, 15 gloves, 31 shoes/trainers, 151 drinks cans, 82
paper bags, 47 glass bottles, 52 crisps/toffee bags,20 shotgun cartridges.
The rubbish was left on the high tide line for collection by SNH
Reserve Manager Andy Turner.
Ferryden (River
Street) to Scurdiness Lighthouse / Scurdiness lighthouse to the
first bay was cleaned on November 14th - 30 bags of rubbish. 3034
items of rubbish were collected comprising of 1,709 pieces of plastic
of which (365) were plastic bottles, 600 polystyrene bits, 27 rubber
pieces, 93 pieces of cloth, 399 bits of metal (210) being discarded
drinks cans, 3 medical items, 114 paper pieces, 52 bits of glass,
7 pieces of wood and 15 ceramic bits. All rubbish was left at the
car park at River Street for uplift by the Environmental Health
department in Montrose after permission was sought and a Ref Number
given for the beach clean. All litter data has been submitted to
Andrea Crump - (beach clean litter surveyor) of The Marine Conservation
Society for adding to the database for 2004 - 2005 periods.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
-click image
to enlarge-
pictured
Left to right - Caroline O'dell, Vick O'dell, Rebecca Chambers,
Paul Horne, Sue Horne, Joan Bell and BDMLR Area Co-ordinator Elaine
Roft with "Tan"
[
Not in photograph Tammy O'Dell and Jim Wilkins ]
Montrose
BDMLR Medic receives award
13th November
BDMLR Montrose Medic Rebecca Chambers received an
award from Aberdeenshire Environmental Forum on November 11th for
her efforts at organising beach cleans for her patrol area - (Johnshaven).
Rebecca adopted Johnshaven beach through The Marine Conservation
Society, and to date, has completed 3 beach clean ups run in conjunction
with the National clean ups organised by The Marine Conservation
Society.
The Montrose BDMLR team have since adopted their
patrol areas and have managed to do a litter survey / clean up for
St Cyrus which took place on Saturday November 6th. The team have
another organised for Ferryden / Scurdiness which takes place on
November 14th. All litter data is then submited to Andrea Crump
of MCS for their database records.
As well as beach clean ups, the team keep their
patrol areas free from rotten carcasses by bagging them and reporting
them to the Environmental Health departments in Aberdeen / Montrose
/ Arbroath areas and from there they are collected and either incinerated
or taken to a land fill site.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
Another
St Ives seal rescue.
10th November 2004
West Cornwall Coordinator Tim Bain received a call
from a member of the public at around 11:30am, regarding a small
seal on Porthmeor Beach. Tim in turn contacted Coordinator Dave
Jarvis about the situation before heading to the beach. Dave, with
Medics Lesley Jarvis and Phil Jarvis, went to meet Tim on the beach.
Tim, who only lives a short distance from the beach,
had already assessed the animal’s condition and had been in
contact with the National Seal Sanctuary about it by the time Dave
and the other Medics had arrived. The pup had moulted, but was malnourished
and also had some wounds to its flippers.
With the help of Dave, Phil and Lesley, Tim caught
the seal and put it into the cage ready for transport. It was then
carried up to the car park in relays, where Phil volunteered to
take the seal to the Sanctuary with Tim.
Arriving at the Sanctuary a while later, the pup
was put into an isolation pen and left to recover before having
a clinical assessment. The assessment found that besides malnourishment
and puncture wounds, the pup also had a high temperature, possibly
the result of an infection.
The Seal Sanctuary Hospital is full of rescued pups
at the moment, and this rescue season is one of the busiest in the
last decade – 18 pups have come to the Sanctuary since the
end of September and there appears to be no slowing down in the
rate of rescues.
Medic
Dan Jarvis
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
West Cornwall (Newquay – Land’s End – St Austell)
click pics
for larger images |
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Drive
Fisheries
We have just received this news update
on the Japanese Drive Fisheries from our colleague in Japan.
Responding to an order placed by members
of the dolphin captivity industry, the fishermen of Futo, Shizuoka
Prefecture, Japan have driven a pod of about 100 bottlenose dolphins
into Futo harbour. The harbour has been sealed with a net so that
the dolphins can't escape. Divers from at least two Japanese aquariums
will be arriving in Futo to select between 20 and 30 "show-quality"
dolphins for their facilities. Some of the dolphins will be killed
for research. What will happen to the remaining dolphins is uncertain
at this point.
With this capture there is a great risk
that Futo will follow in the footsteps of Taiji and become a supplier
of dolphins for Zoos and Aquariums in Japan and abroad. In order
to prevent this, worldwide protests are needed immediately. Please
urge the authorities to let the captured dolphins go. And ask that
no further dolphin captures will take place in Japan in the future.
Please send your email today to:
Fisheries Section
of Shizuoka prefecture
E-mail: webmaster@pref.shizuoka.jp
Mr. Yoshinobu
Ishikawa, Governor of Shizuoke prefecture
E-mail: webmaster@pref.shizuoka.jp
Ito Fishing
Cooperative
E-mail: ito@soitoshigyokyo.jf-net.ne.jp
Liz
Sandeman
Co-founder
The Marine Connection
Cove
Bay, Scotland - seal call
10th November
November 6th Montrose Medic Rebecca Chambers contacted
Montrose Area Co-ordinator Elaine Roft about a seal pup reported
to her at Cove Bay by a local resident Penny Cogle. Consequently,
Elaine also received an e-mail from John. F. Robins of Save Our
Seals, who was notified of this seal by another member of the public
who had contacted John and Sandra Bonar of the SSPCA. Elaine called
the BDMLR Aberdeenshire Strandings coordiantor Nick Duthie, and
he agreed to organise a team and search for the pup the following
day when they had more light. An extensive patrol was carried out
by Nick and his team searching the harbour area to the left of the
car park and the 2 small pools where the pup was reported to be,
apparently without parents looking very ill. The search proved fruitless.
Elaine received pictures of the pup from g,tt on November 10th,
the person who sent the initial e-mail to John Robins of save our
seals. A follow up report will be submitted in due course by Nick
and his team. Elaine has since updated g.tt and John Robins of the
outcome.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
click
pics for larger size |
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Pup
rescue/relay - Gardenstown, Scotland
5th November
A male common
pup weighing 17kg found at Gardenstown, Banff, Scotland, commenced
its relay to BDMLR Resource and Rescue Unit on 
Friday
5th November. The pup named "Guy" hauled out on Tuesday
and was treated by Vet Cameron McPherson and Vet nurse Caroline
Passingham CRRU / BDMLR based in Gardenstown . Its minor lesions
were treated with Tetracyl, 1.5mls of Baytril was administered and
the pup tube fed with lectade plus before it was released again.
It was sighted on wednesday apparently looking ok, but on Friday
after hauling out again, concerns were raised regarding its health.
The pup had chronic diarrhoea, and was generally looking poorly.
Temp was 36.8 and 300mls of Zoolyte was administered before it commenced
its journey from Gardenstown to Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. Montrose
Co-ordinator Elaine Roft, along with Deputy Co-ordiantor Bob Pert,
resumed relay from Bridge of Don at 19.00 hrs to Arbroath where
Tayforth Co-ordiantor Gareth Norman was waiting to transport the
pup to the BDMLR Resource and Rescue Unit at Broughty Ferry. Elaine
and Gareth arrived at the unit at 22.00 hrs and the pup was left
to settle for a spell whilst rehydration fluids were prepared. The
pup, was at this time fitting, unable to control its head and its
temperature reading was so high that it went off the reading scale
on the thermometer. As Elaine and Gareth were preparing to tube
feed it, the pup vomited twice bringing up a worm and a load of
bile coloured fluid. For a few seconds, it seemed to go into a comatose
situation before coming round and vomiting a third time. The seal
pup, sadly, then passed away quickly but peacefully virtually a
few seconds after the third bout of vomitus at 21.51hrs. BDMLR vet
James Barnett was called and requested that Bob Reid from SAC be
notified so that a post mortem can be carried out. The seal pup
will be taken to SAC in Edinburgh (Bush vets) on saturday 6th November
for Fiona Howie to perform the post mortem.
Thanks to Cameron
and Caroline who had a journey of approx 90 miles, Elaine and Bob
who's journey clocked up 100 miles and Gareth Norman approx 90 miles,
BDMLR vet James Barnett for his advice so late at night, and Bob
Reid (SAC) for advising arrangements for post mortem. [ Mileage
clocked up was for round trip journies for all parties involved.
]
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
[
Findings from post mortem carried out by SAC Edinburgh reveal that
this 6 month old common pup died from ; Hepatic necrosis
peritonitis, Parasitism (lungworm and gut worm) ]
BDMLR
Director & Vet, James Barnett, issued the following statement
to the Head of Wildlife in Ireland, after this awful incident (below)
took place.
Dear Sir,
I am a director of a charity
with an active involvement in the field of marine mammal welfare,
so I am sure you will appreciate our serious concern over the recent
killing of seals on the Blasket Islands. We also cannot condone
the totally inhumane methods used to kill some of these animals.
We trust you will do everything in your power to bring the perpetrators
to book for this act, which is not only barbaric but also extremely
misguided. You may wish to obtain a copy of the report we had prepared
on the arguments surrounding seal-fisheries interactions from our
website ( www.bdmlr.org.uk ), prepared by the eminent seal biologist,
Dr Susan Wilson of Co. Down. This report clearly highlights the
futility of fishermen's attempts to improve their catches by culling
seals. As we all know, declining fish stocks are caused by overfishing,
not by seals.
Yours faithfully,
James Barnett
Director and veterinary surgeon
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Seal pups bludgeoned
and shot off Irish coast
5th November
Around 60 seals have been bludgeoned
and shot to death in a horrific attack on the Blasket Islands off
Ireland’s west coast, it emerged today.
Gardai confirmed they were investigating after receiving reports
that grey seals including suckling pups as young as three weeks
were slaughtered.
The Irish Seal Sanctuary has described
as "horrific slaughter" the killing of the breeding grey
seals, which are a protected species under the Irish Wildlife Act.
The organisation reported the dead seals
to the Gardai, the Environment Department and the National Parks
and Wildlife service.
Pauline Beades of the sanctuary said
that a representative in Kerry, Sean Eviston, had travelled to the
scene after they received a report of a suspected unofficial cull
of 17 seals last Wednesday.
She said: "We found almost 60 animals,
mostly pups with around four adults, killed.
"It would appear some were shot,
some bludgeoned and some may have had nails driven into their heads.
"A person who can do a thing like
that to an animal can do it to a human," she warned.
Ms Beades said the dead seals were found
on the western side of Beginish Island, one of the Blaskets.
"Fishermen can get a licence to
cull if the population has become unsustainable but they would never
be given permission to shoot pups on a beach, it would be like shooting
fish in a barrel," she said. The sanctuary said the pups killed
would account for most of the seals born in the colony this year.
"I’m not a scientist but
I certainly can’t imagine that it will do the population any
good," she said.
Ms Beades confirmed that the Blasket
Islands grey seal colonies, which were once the biggest in Ireland,
have been decimated in recent years.
The organisation has estimated from
a count taken last December that the seal population is now possibly
lower than 250, down from 700 in 1998 and 2,000 over 50 years ago.
Killings of the protected species have
been reported on many other occasions but no one has been charged.
Ms Beades said that 18 seals had been reported dead in an official
cull last year.
"They are only the ones that have
been washed up on beaches. A lot more could have been killed and
sank," she added.
"It is ironic that the people who
carried out this attack can’t recognise their eco-tourism
potential."
Ms Beades appealed to anyone who knew
who had carried out the attack to come forward and report them to
the Gardai.
( source :
www.timesonline.co.uk )
[ Another Press
Report - click HERE
]
Wildlife
Photographer of the Year
Underwater photographer wins overall competition
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
is organised by the BBC Wildlife Magazine and Natural History Museum,
London. One of the aims of this international, prestigious competition
is to use the winning entries to encourage people to appreciate
the huge diversity of life on Earth and in consequence, care about
its future. This year more than 18,500 entries were received from
photographers in 52 countries.
On 20th October,
at the Natural History Museum in London, the Wildlife Photographer
of the Year 2004 was announced. The overall winning 
entry
this year was from PADI Instructor Doug Perrine for his bronze whalers
charging a baitball during the annual sardine run up the East Coast
of South Africa. The image is inspiring and will go a long way to
open up the wonders of the underwater world to a larger public and
highlight the fate of many species of sharks worldwide. Bearing
in mind that over 100 million sharks are killed each year, excluding
those killed as by-catch and that at the current mortality rate,
many shark species will soon be extinct. As apex predators, sharks
play a vital role in our ecosystem.
There are 13 categories in the competition, and
it was pleasing to see that underwater photographs were featured
in the winning lists of many of these, as well as the Underwater
World category itself. The winning photos (including the winners,
runners up, and highly commended) are featured in a touring exhibition
that will visit 28 locations around the UK during the year (including
the Natural History Museum), as well as many international areas
such as Australia, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and
the US.
Project AWARE, established by PADI in the early
90s, was proud to have supported this year’s Underwater World
Category of the competition. The natural link between underwater
photography and diving provides a unique platform on which Project
AWARE can engage people in understanding the beauty of the underwater
world, and through this, work towards its mission of conserving
underwater environments.
Visit www.projectaware.org
for further information about Project AWARE and their Protect the
Sharks campaign. Visit www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto
for further information about the competition and exhibition tour.
BDMLR
at Diveshow
A BIG thank you on the website to all the
volunteers who helped on the stand over last weekend, and all those
who gave their support and kind donations.
Many thanks
Sue
White - BDMLR HQ
click pics
for larger size |
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Seal
pup watch ends in rescue, West Cornwall
2nd - 3rd November
Following a call from a member of the
public about a seal pup lying on a public beach in St Ives at about
9:30am on Tuesday 2nd November, the National Seal Sanctuary contacted
BDMLR West Cornwall Coordinator Tim Bain and asked him to assess
and look after the pup until a member of the Animal Care Team arrived.
At about 11:00am, Marianne Fellows from the ACT arrived and agreed
that the unweaned whitecoat pup was in apparently good health. She
recommended that Tim and other BDMLR Medics and Cornish Seal Monitoring
and Observation Group (C-SMOG) members keep watch over the pup,
as it was on a busy public beach, and also to keep an eye out for
the mother if she returned. Having already contacted Cornwall Seal
Monitoring and Observation Group Coordinator Caroline Curtis and
BDMLR Coordinator Dave Jarvis beforehand, local Medics and C-SMOGgers
had already been alerted to a possible watch situation, which was
then implemented…
1130hrs: Medic Simon Money joins the
watch.
1200hrs: Medic Phil Jarvis arrives at
the site. Simon left not long before his arrival. A section of the
beach is cordoned off to prevent people and dogs from getting too
close.
1400hrs: Caroline Curtis arrives to
help with the watch. The pup hasn’t been very active so far
and is also quiet. There have been no positive sightings of the
mother, although another seal has been spotted in the area.
1500hrs: BDMLR Kent Coordinator Sharon
Gisby, who is down here for a week volunteering at the Seal Sanctuary,
joins the watch. The pup continues to be inactive. Many members
of the public are interested in what is happening. Tim and Phil
take a break.
1600hrs: Coordinator Dave Jarvis and
Medics Lesley Jarvis, Dan Jarvis and Ian Laird arrive.
1630hrs: A tent is erected for the night
shift. Caroline leaves the watch as it begins to get dark.
1645hrs: Rain! The pup appears to be
bothered by it and shuffles a few yards to the top of the beach
where it huddles against the wall, before moving again shortly afterward
a few more yards into the entrance of a small privately owned passageway.
1930hrs: Medics Dan Jarvis and Ian Laird
leave. Rain stops. Phil does the rounds at local take-aways…
1800hrs: Fairly dark now and still no
sign of the mother. The pup is asleep.
2000hrs: Sharon leaves. The pup re-emerges
from the passageway entrance and goes back to where it had been
for most of the day to sleep.
2100hrs: Watchers take it in turns to
visit the nearby pub…
2130hrs: Tim contacts Marianne to discuss
the situation and was advised that the Sanctuary would accept the
pup the following morning.
2315hrs: Dan returns for the night shift
with a bag of tealights (!).
0000hrs: Dave and Lesley leave the night
shifters (Tim, Phil and Dan). No news on the mother. A small, shallow
pit is created in the sand near the tent and some of the tealights
are lit and put in it (protected from the wind). It’s almost
Bonfire Night anyway...
0100hrs: Kebabs!
0130hrs: Due to the wind blowing out
some of the candles, Tim makes lanterns out of empty cans cut open
and a tealight put inside them. The mother has still not returned.
0300hrs: The pup has woken up and appears
to be getting stressed. It starts shuffling around and gets quite
noisy. The decision is made to catch the pup and take it back to
Tim’s for the rest of the night before taking it to the Sanctuary
in the morning. Superficial puncture wounds (bites) are noticed
on the pup’s belly.
0900hrs: The pup is taken to the Sanctuary.
It is a healthy weight for a pup of 2 – 3 weeks old but would
have become malnourished since its mother never returned.
Thanks to everyone who took part in
the watch and rescue, your help was invaluable. Special mention
and thanks goes to Tim who was there from 9:30am to 3am the next
morning watching the pup sleeping for a good part of the watch.
Medic Dan Jarvis
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
West Cornwall
A
Whale of a Task
1st
November
Just one week after attending a training
forum, Kate Hockley, a volunteer from St Erth, was called out to
help record a huge fin whale, the second largest animal on earth.
Kate is a new Strandings Volunteer for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust
(CWT) and she joined a number of experienced volunteers who went
to record and photograph the whale. It is one of only ten stranded
fin whales to have been recorded in Cornwall since records began.
“What
an introduction” said Kate. “I was awestruck by the
whole experience. The whale was absolutely massive, an amazing beast
and, although it was so very sad to see it 
dead,
it was also an incredible experience. It was lying upside down on
its back, its eyes were shut and it looked very beautiful in its
own way. I was surprised, not just at the size, but also at the
length of the throat grooves which ran about ¾ of the way
down its length. I wondered what it must look like in the water
with its mouth open, feeding. I was so lucky to be there to see
it and hear more about it from the other volunteers.”
[
Sennen Cove Fin whale - Pic by Caroline Curtis ]
The whale, a young adult female, was
reported to the CWT Strandings Network on Sunday. The Network records
all stranded cetaceans in Cornwall for the Institute of Zoology
and the Natural History Museum. The carcass was found near Land’s
End and, as it weighed somewhere between 35 and 45 tonnes and measured
just over 50 feet (15m), it was almost certainly blown onto the
rocks by the recent strong winds, although it is likely that is
was dead before it beached. The animal was so long, a surveyor’s
tape was needed to measure it. The carcass was quite fresh and it
is estimated that it died only a few days ago, although there were
no obvious signs to indicate the cause of death.
The whale was also examined by cetacean
expert, Dr Nick Tregenza, who said “Fin whales can grow to
90 feet long. Since 1996 they have been seen, during most winters,
around the Land's End peninsula, Mount's Bay or Falmouth Bay. It
does look as though the fin whale population may be recovering well
since the end of the commercial whaling that devastated their population,
and as a result they are re-occupying habitat they previously used.”
”Most large whale strandings leave
some unanswered questions, and in this case there is a peculiarly
regular pattern of patches of damage to the whale's skin at spots
about a foot apart. It also has an excess of damage on its underside,
and it is also odd that it has come into the bay when most other
drifting debris was being washed out.”
The public are urged to report any stranded mammals, whether whales,
dolphins, porpoises or seals to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust on 0845
201 2626. They are also advised not approach or to touch the dead
whale, and to keep their dogs away from it, as cetaceans can carry
diseases that may be transmitted to both humans and their pets.
This is the second whale to have stranded
in the Southwest in the last few days: the first being found near
Brixham, Devon.
Jan
Loveridge - CWT & BDMLR
[
BBC OnLine report of Brixham whale - click HERE
]
Call-out
for Montrose (BDMLR) Team
31.10.04
At 14.00hrs BDMLR Montrose Area Co-ordinator Elaine
Roft received a telephone call from locals Ian Falconer & Dennis
Strang, alerting her of a seal hauled out on the glaxo bank, at
Montrose beside Glaxo Smith Kline. Apparently the seal just wanted
to haul out and rest but wasn't getting piece due to public and
canine disturbance. Elaine and her husband John Roft arrived on
scene to find "Salty" one of the common juvenilles that
the team have been monitoring. The public were updated on the monitoring
of the seals on the bank - especially this one in question along
with its mate "Pepper" and the other common seals that
have appeared over the last 3 months. With the dogs now on leads
and the spectators happily observing from a distance along with
Elaine and John, "Pepper" finally appeared but stayed
in the surfline approx 5 yards away from "Salty". Happy
that both these seals were still healthy and not showing any signs
of injuries etc, they were left to go about their business.
Thanks To Ian
and Dennis for monitoring and keeping in touch by phone until we
arrived on scene, and to Brechiners Caroline and Vick who after
hearing of the work of BDMLR have decided to join our volunteer
group of observers / helpers and to learn more from their experiences
today.
Elaine
Roft
British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Montrose Area Co-ordinator (Inverbervie-Easthaven)
Picture
Credit - John Roft |
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