60 Years of Seal Rescue
 
Successful rehabilitation of a common dolphin, Spirit, in 1992
The successful rehabilitation of a common dolphin, Spirit.

On 22nd August 1992 a young male common dolphin was stranded on a beach near Hayle, he was taken to the Sanctuary where staff had to support him in the water for 17 hours. At 3pm the next day Spirit began to swim unaided.

For the first week a 24 hours watch was mounted. Spirit´s condition improved and soon he was feeding on his own.

On 3rd September 1992 Spirit was carried in a stretcher from his pool and placed on an airbed for the short trip to Gweek´s boatyard, there he was loaded onto an inflatable, manned by navy divers and sanctuary staff. One mile off the mouth of the Helford, Spirit was gently lowered into the water and released back into the sea.


Photo: Mike Thomas (left) owner of the Seal Sanctuary in the early 1990s, Peter (middle) and James Vyvyan (right).


Previous     News Update - July 2018