On the 19th July, I completed my first seal rescue!
I have always loved marine life, conservation and saving animals! Its my thing! For many years I wanted to be a marine biologist and marine zoologist. Alas through my studies towards this I stumbled across other areas of science which I pursued which led me to infectious diseases- but that Is a whole different story. Just because I have not pursued marine biology does not mean that I do not try and participate in any conservation or marine help I can.
For many years I have wanted to be a marine mammal medic of which last September I completed my British Divers Marine Life Rescue course to become a marine mammal medic! I successfully completed the course and on the 19th July I finally answered my first call out! I had answered a few others over the year but they have been deceased seals so was told not to attend!
Ironically attending this seal was a fluke, I received the text about a seal check in Whitstable and was just leaving the house to walk my dog, Coco. Ironically, I thought to myself unless I can walk to the seal I can not attend as my car was in the garage. Well fast forward all of 2 mins from my house while walking to the beach I see a flustered man and a little white fluff at the bottom of the beach. I actually thought to myself “oh my god, its right here… opposite my house!” and low and behold it was!
I assessed the seal and liaised with HQ and we established it was young and needed to be taken to vets and hopefully rehabilitation. I waited for another medic to arrive as it was my first ever call out.
I did have the option to “wrestle” haha the seal myself and capture it but I chose not to as I had never done this before except for training and had not seen one completed myself so wanted to witness it. Jez was great and talked me through everything and taught me while I was helping.
We established the seal did not have mouth rot- thank goodness!
I carried the seal back to the car and that was that. Popped it in the cage and it went to the vets where it was confirmed no mouth rot, no broken jaw.. instead it was established this seal had been bitten and ultimately had to have its eye removed. The poor thing must have been in agony! We did establish it must have been from a colony over in Sussex so luckily it was transferred to Mallydams in hastings.
The seal will hopefully make a full recovery!
You can read more about BDMLR’s work here: https://bdmlr.org.uk/