Seals rescued at end of 2021 are returned to wild
PORTELET got the seal of approval from Luna C and Aurora, who had been recovering at the GSPCA for more than a year.
The two seals arrived at the animal charity at the end of 2021, both in very poorly conditions.
Luna C was rescued from Fontenelle Bay, and Aurora was rescued from St Ouen’s Bay in Jersey.
‘Both were really poorly when we first got them, especially Aurora, who was just a couple of days old when he was rescued,’ said Geoff George, head of marine mammals at the GSPCA.
‘They were underweight, dehydrated, and they had seal pox and lungworm.’
Both seals were poor eaters, but have been nursed back to health at the GSPCA and were strong enough to be released yesterday on the Animal Shelter’s 150th birthday.
‘They’re lovely seals and so it is bittersweet to see them go,’ said Mr George.
‘They will likely stay as a pair in the wild, at least for a bit.’
Until the release of Luna C and Aurora, the GSPCA had a total of eight seals in its care, the most it has ever had at one time.
The charity hopes that more seals will be able to be released in the coming months.
‘Luna C and Aurora were rescued last season, which means all last season’s seals are now released and we can clean out the pool to focus on treating the remaining six,’ said GSPCA manager, Steve Byrne.
‘This release marks 25 seals that we have returned to the wild in the last 10 years.’
At first, both seals were a little reluctant to swim far from the beach, particularly Aurora, who needed some encouragement from Mr George, but eventually they found their confidence to leave the shoreline.
