Meet Golka (Polish Cheese)...who was rescued on the 12th of September 2026 from St Ives Bay by the
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) marine mammal medics volunteers. She is around 3-4 weeks old but unfortunately has found herself to be very underweight at 13.8kg, around half the weight she should be for this age. She also had a few minor infected wounds on her back and an ulcer in her left eye which are all now on treatment.
Update : After nearly 2 weeks at the BDMLR´s hospital receiving vital treatment and care, she was transferred to the Seal Sanctuary in Gweek on the 24th of September 2026 to continue her rehabilitation and look how much she has grown already from intake!
Golka is now a feisty chunky pup at 17kg, who´s already learning how to eat in the water and is loving her swim time in the hospital!
Update - 29th September 2026 : After 5 days in the hospital, Golka was ready to move out to the nursery pools and is doing well. This means she is on the road to recovery and also has a deeper pool to swim in.
Golka´s flipper tag ID number SL393 yellow.
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Pups in the pools will be learning how to behave in the wild, interacting with other seals and also competing for their fish, which are all vital skills they will need when they are released back out into the wild. These photos were taken on the 29th of September 2026.
How can you help?
Every year, tiny, vulnerable seal pups arrive at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary´s hospital needing specialist care, plenty of TLC and time to grow strong enough to return to the wild.
From their first days in our care to the moment they´re ready to swim free, as a sponsor your support is there every step of the way. Each seal pup costs us an average of £2,000 - £3,000 to rescue and rehabilitate, and some need even more specialist care.
By sponsoring a seal pup, you´ll become part of their journey and help provide the food, care and rehabilitation they need to get back where they belong, in the wild.
Choose from three sponsorship levels and help give a rescued seal pup the second chance they deserve.
