Gouda was rescued on 30th August 2026
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This 11kg male whitecoat grey seal was reported to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) hotline during the early morning of 30th of August 2026. The area coordinator arranged for local marine mammal medics volunteers to check on the pup at Millook Haven in Bude, North Cornwall.
Ado, one of the BDMLR volunteers, said "There was no sign of mum at all, and the pup had stranded on the high-tide line, lying on his right side. He had a few cuts and bites, possibly from another adult seal, with one particularly deep wound on his shoulder which warranted an uplift and a trip to Penbode vets for antibiotics. The pup was transferred to the Seal Sanctuary in Gweek for care, treatment and rehabilitation. Good luck little one."
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Photos Credit : Ado Shorland - BDMLR
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This pup has been named Gouda. He is being fed a blended fish soup every 4 hours to keep up the level of feeding that his mum would have provided, but even so, it is impossible for the team to emulate the nutrient rich and calorie dense milk that ensures pups are able to put on around 1.5kg a day up to their weaning at around 17-21 days. He is quite feisty.
Young grey seal pups like Gouda, who still have their whitecoats, are much more vulnerable, too, which means the team have to take extra precautions in the hospital to ensure the pups are not stressed and get all the rest they need to put on weight for a healthy recovery.
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Update - 9th September 2026 :
Little Gouda has been an absolute star since he arrived at the hospital, he´s already learned to feed himself and was very good whilst having x-rays to check for any breaks or potential infection in his bones, and while the team will not know fully until the vets study the results, early signs are looking good.
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You can meet Gouda in the seal hospital, but please be quiet while he rests and recovers.
These photos were taken on the 7th of September 2026.
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Update - 29th September 2026 : Gouda was recently moved down to the outside pools for his next stage of rehabilitation. This means he is on the road to recovery and also has a deeper pool to swim in.
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 in nursery pool number 4.
Gouda´s flipper tag ID number SL392 yellow.
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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.
To find out more about the Cornish Seal Sanctuary´s Seal Pup Sponsorship.
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