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"Loud" Shakespeare the seal back in the wild after five-month recovery

Tuesday 11 April 2023

"Loud" Shakespeare the seal back in the wild after five-month recovery

Tuesday 11 April 2023


A seal found underweight and "extremely poorly" on Jersey shores - who will go down in history as being the "loudest" pup rescuers had ever dealt with - has been released back into the wild.

Shakespeare the seal was rescued on 25 October and has been in recovery ever since.

He was just days old when he was taken in by the GSPCA's Head of Marine Mammals Geoff George, and still had some of his umbilical cord attached. 

Now, after a long five months of care from the GSPCA, which specialises in seal rescue care, Shakespeare has been released back into the wild alongside another pup, Emilia, who was rescued in December in Guernsey. 

"Both were less than half their body weight and extremely poorly when they arrived,” said Manager of the GSPCA, Steve Byrne. “They have had a long road to get better and it was so nice to see them back where they belong."

“The other four pups - Henny, Echo, Hector and Cleopatra - rescued this season continue to do well and improve daily," he added.

Mr George, who was present when the seals were released at Portelet in Guernsey this weekend, commented: "Never have we had eight pups at one time like we have had this year.

"The other seals are doing well and we may have another more to release soon. Of all the seal pups, Shakespeare, who was rescued in Jersey, is without doubt the loudest seal pup we have ever had.” 

The subtlety of Shakespeare's prose was clearly lost on some.

The GSPCA has rescued and released 27 grey seal pups and currently still has four in its care.

“We are fund raising for the new much needed Wildlife Hospital which will have bigger pools and more space and please if you can donate to help us build this,” said Mr Byrne. 

You can donate to the charity online HERE.

IN PICTURES: The release...

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