Seal refuge rescues stricken Baby Briar

12 July 2023

PORTAFERRY’S Exploris seal sanctuary has rescued its first seal of the birthing season.

Since it opened in 1989, the sanctuary close to the shores of Strangford Lough, has helped more than 500 sick, injured and abandoned seals, and usually rescues around 30 seals a year.

Baby Briar has made the headlines as the first seal pup to be rescued this year.

Abandoned by his mother on June 25, the pup was saved from starvation on Rathlin Island and ferried back to the mainland by the RSPB before being taken to Portaferry.

Exploris conservation officer, Blair Bailie, said Briar was a decent weight but would have “lost the pounds” and starved to death had he not been rescued.

He said the sanctuary wants to give every seal a chance of survival.

“Phocine Distemper Virus [PDV] wiped out 40,000 seals in the past 30 years in Europe, with the island of Ireland losing 400 seals in the last epidemic in 1988,” Blair explained.

“While nothing can be done to stop disease, he believes that human interference was one of the biggest causes of seal deaths. Some die a natural death, some as the result of dog attacks and some seals have been abandoned.

“People try and feed the seals with the best intentions, but if they get too close, this scares the mother, leaving the pup without milk.

“Exploris try and compensate for the seals that otherwise would have survived and had a good chance of survival if not interfered by humans.”

All the rescued seals will receive loving attention from the keepers at the sanctuary and will then receive check-ups and medical attention from the vet. The pups will also be rediscovering the outdoors and learning to socialise with other seals.

Blair said some of the rescued seals arrive in a bad condition and in the majority of cases they time come from the brink of death and four months after their arrival they are released back into the sea.

“It’s one of the most fulfilling things about working at Exploris seeing them get back out there. It’s not a pleasant process, but it’s always worth it,” he continued.

“Seals arrive here as light as eight kilos and by the time they’re released, they’re 35 kilos. One of our responsibilities is to get them as fat as possible. That’s what they need. They’ll be four or five times the weight than they arrived.”

Blair also said it’s not a sad occasion for him when the pups are released.

“You do get to love them, but keeping them in captivity is wrong. It’s one thing getting to see them up close, getting to laugh at them, and knowing their personalities, but it’s fulfilling to get to see them get out there, it’s a joyous occasion.”

Seals are protected by law from killing and intentional or reckless disturbance and getting too close and harassing a seal can result in a six-month jail term or a fine of up to £5,000 fine or both.

Blair added: “Let Exploris know if you see a seal pup in distress. It’s okay if its mother is a few feet away. My rule of thumb is if a seal is looking at you, then you’re too close – it feels worried, threatened. Take a step back if that’s the case.”

If you think a seal pup needs help. contact Exploris Seal Sanctuary on 07701 372623 with more information available at www.explorisni.com/seal-sanctuary.

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