A poorly and vulnerable seal rescued from Bexhill seafront is now well on the way to full recovery after being tended to by experts.
The seal, which has been named Meg (short for Megladon), was underweight and dehydrated when she was discovered.
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service was called to the scene to the rescue the common seal. This story was reported by Bexhill News.
She was then admitted to RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre in Hastings.
The team wrote on their Facebook page the day when Meg was admitted.
They wrote: “Meet Meg (Megladon, not technically a dinosaur we know but too perfect a name).
“She’s much larger than most seals that get admitted into our centre coming in at 38.5kg.
“However, she is not a pup we suspect she was born during last summer’s breeding season for commons.
“So she is actually relatively small for her age.”
Jo Mihr, a vet at the centre, said: “Meg is a common seal and was admitted into the centre on March 16.
“She was rescued as there were serious concerns for her health, and after veterinary examinations she was found to be underweight, lethargic and also had a temperature.
“She was given antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and her temperature is down and she seems brighter and is eating some food.
“We will continue to monitor her while we provide treatment and investigate the reason for her weight loss, but hopefully she will continue to make progress so she can be released back into the wild.”
Caption above: Video of Meg eating her fish at the RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre. Video sourced from the RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife and Education Centre Faebook page posted on 20 March 2023.
Advice from the RSPCA
A spokesperson for the RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre said: “The RSPCA recommends that if you see a seal that appears healthy, they should be left alone.
“Seals are strong, powerful wild animals and have a very nasty bite which can cause horrible wounds, which could become infected by the bacteria that live in a seal’s mouth.
“We would also ask the public to not get close to seals in order to take pictures or selfies with them.
“Please keep other animals, such as dogs, away from the seal; be vigilant when walking dogs near them and keep them on leads.
“If you see a seal on land, please do not try to encourage them back into the water as seal pups may haul out to rest, or if they’re unwell.
“Feeding them should also be avoided as this may do more harm than good.
“If you are concerned about them, observe from a distance for at least 24 hours.
“If the seal is at risk, cannot get back to the sea, is sick or injured, or if it’s a pup and the mother has not returned for 24 hours, please contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.”
