Sophie and Katie, members of the Animal Care Team along with Nigel, Hunstanton SEA LIFE´s General Manager, went to investigate and found the premature seal pup on the beach. It was decided to bring him in to the seal hospital because his mum was no where to be found. Also the pup was much too young to fend for himself and the tide was rapidly coming in. The umbilical cord shows that the pups was approx. two days old. The pup weighed 9.1kgs.

As you can see from the above photos, although the pup had his fur coat, he still had some of his white lanugo coat, unlike grey seal pups who are born with a white fluffy coat, Common seals usually shed their white fur before they are born.

Blue Cheese is being well cared for by the specialist animal care team and is so far showing positive signs.

He is the first male common seal pup rescued this 2022 season!

Click here to see larger version of the above photos taken during the rescue of this pup and arrival at the seal hospital.   Click here to watch a short video of this pup being rescued.

Update - 6th July 2022 : Blue Cheese is doing really well and slowly putting on weight. It will not be too long before he is moved into the hospital´s weaning pool. Click here or on the photos below to see a larger version of these taken on 4th July 2022.

Update - 10th August 2022 : Blue Cheese along with 3 other rescued seal pups have had their first swim in the brand new outdoor pool on 8th August 2022 when they were moved from the hospital for their final stage of rehabilitation. Click here to read the Press Release. Click here to see a larger version of these images and further photos.

Update - 13th September 2022 : Blue Cheese has completed his rehabilitation and is now ready to return home to the wild in the coming weeks.   Click here to see a larger version of these images.

Update - 21st October 2022 : It is always a good day when the Animal Care Team return the rescued seal pups back to the wild where they belong, but at the same time it is a bit emotional saying goodbye after being with them for three months or more. Blue Cheese along with Wensleydale, Applewood, Camembert and Brie, were released back into the wild on 19th October 2022.