The GSPCA has confirmed that the first seal pup rescued this season, died shortly after the team picked it up.
The “underweight, exhausted and extremely poorly white coat grey seal pup” was spotted near Fort Doyle. The animal charity was told it was fitting and “struggling in the breakers”.
The seal pup died shortly after staff rescued it, with the charity saying it had very poor chances of survival.
“At less than two weeks of age the poorly pup was thin, exhausted, and had a lot of health issues and sadly passed away shortly after being rescued despite the best efforts of the team, said Geoff George, the Head of Marine Mammals.
“(Thursday) night we were called out to a sick seal pup which was fitting at Fort Doyle and was struggling in the breakers. At only 22kgs, half of the ideal weight for the pup, it was extremely poorly and sadly passed away shortly after the rescue.”
Steve Byrne, the GSPCA Manager, said: “We are all extremely saddened at the GSPCA as last night shortly after rescuing the first seal pup of the Guernsey 2025/6 season it sadly died.
“We help animals around the clock 365 days a year and sadly with some like the pup last night we aren’t always able to save them but we always do our very best we can.
“We are at the start of the seal pup season and with the stormy weather this time of year we have no doubt there will be others needing our help and if you do see a seal in trouble please call us on 257261.”
This winter will be the first ‘seal season’ without the use of the GSPCA’s dedicated marine facilities after they were demolished earlier this year to be rebuilt.
The animal charity relied on the community’s help in providing care for stranded seals last winter.
“In the last 14 years we have managed to rescue and release an incredible 45 back into local waters,” said Mr Byrne.
“Although we don’t have our traditional seal facilities as they were demolished earlier this year, we have created a fantastic area while the Wildlife Hospital is being built.”