Seal recovering after dog bites and harassment
BDMLRA seal is recovering after being rescued from a beach where he was being harassed by teenagers, a rescue group has said.
The male common seal pup was found on Red Acre beach in Seaham, County Durham, on 28 July after a member of the public reported it to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
BDMLR coordinator Debbie Harrison said the seal also had a number of dog bites and, if the medic had not arrived when they did, he would have died.
Now at a rehabilitation centre in Cheshire, the seal was doing well and "no doubt he will be released at some point", Harrison said.
As well as several dog bites, the pup had an infected rear flipper wound and mouth rot, and was exhausted and dehydrated, she said.
'Don't take selfies'
After being initially treated at the North East Seal Triage unit, in Northumberland, the seal was transferred to north-west England for further rehabilitation.
"He came to us at 10.9kg (24lbs), he needs to be about 30kg (66lbs) minimum before he can go back and be released into the sea," Harrison said.
"These are common pups, they are up against it, tiny little things, but I have no doubt he will be released at some point."
Harrison urged the public to not approach any seals they see on land.
"Don't go and take selfies," she said. "Put your dogs on leads.
"Never put a seal back into the sea - they've hauled out to rest or they're injured."