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Released seal pups gave helpers 'final farewell'

Samantha JaggerNorth East and Cumbria
Tynemouth Aquarium A grey seal swimming in the North Sea. It has its teal grey head poking out of the water and is looking into the camera.Tynemouth Aquarium
Before swimming off, the seals took a "final glance" to volunteers "which felt like a final farewell"

Two rescued seal pups rescued gave "one final farewell" to volunteers before swimming off into the North Sea.

The grey seals were found "severely underweight" in spots near Seaham and Cambois in January, with one of them "struggling to survive", Blyth Wildlife Rescue said.

After being treated at a rescue facility, the seals named Minnie and Tweety were taken to Tyneside Aquarium for rehabilitation and released in March.

Senior aquarist Sophie Wilson described seeing them leave as "bittersweet", with team members "wiping away tears" as the seals "took a final glance" before taking to the sea.

Tynemouth Aquarium A grey seal is lying at the water's edge on a beach among brown rocks. It is light-grey coloured with black spots on its body. The waves are washing over it as it enters the North Sea.Tynemouth Aquarium
The pups more than doubled their weight before they were released

The pair arrived at Blyth Wildlife Rescue on 20 February weighing 10.4kg (22.9lb) and 13.6kg (29.9lb).

"Grey seals often are underweight and exhausted due to being abandoned by their mother and not learning to feed well, which is the most common reason we get them in," Wilson said.

Tyneside Aquarium Senior aquarist Sophie Wilson holds up a light in a seal rehabilitation facility. It is a white environment with a person in the background wearing green uniform. Sophie, who is holding a pink light, wears a navy uniform and navy overalls. She has blonde hair which is tied in a plait. Tyneside Aquarium
Sophie Wilson said it was "really rewarding" helping seal pups grow into "stronger, confident adults"

Grey seals are commonly seen from late August until January, while harbour seals begin to arrive from June, the aquarist said.

"Typically, they are with us for a minimum of three months, in which time our team get to know the personalities of each seal and develop a connection with them."

Tynemouth Aquarium Four team members part of a "seal hospital team" carry an orange and blue animal carrier. One person has a black hoodie which has a logo reading "seal hospital team" on it. They four are carrying the crate over a concrete sea defence where the shore is in the background. Tynemouth Aquarium
The aquarium said many volunteers give up their time to help seal rehabilitation

Tweety weighed 38.5kg and Minnie 42.36kg on the day of their release.

"Our volunteers and seal team spend a lot of time caring for the animals," Wilson said.

"They give up their time because they want the seals to have the best possible chance.

"It's really rewarding watching all our pups that come through.

"Having had a difficult start to life, [they] transform into stronger, confident adults to keep the populations growing in the wild."

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