News Update - Autumn 2020
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A-scarium is back! Explore the spooky seas with Hunstanton SEA LIFE´s fin-tastically frightening activity trail from 17th October - 1st November 2020.
Book your tickets on-line now!
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| First Penguin "Gender Reveal Party" Live on TV!
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ITV´s This Morning´s resident vet Dr Scott Miller was live at the SEA LIFE Sanctuary on 23rd September when staff announced that the new Humboldt penguin chick Squirt was a "Girl".
The staff celebrated as the gender was revealed with confetti cannons and later an ice cake.
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Dr Miller said "The tricky thing with humboldt penguins is not only that they are an endangered species, so it is incredibly important they are breeding them, but it is impossible to tell a male from a female."
"The difference with these birds is that we need to do it with scientific testing."
Click here to read more in the online Eastern Daily Press.
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Squirt is officially part of the gang now, she has her own arm band!
Each one of the penguins has their own individual band colour to be easily identified (rather than counting the spots on their bellies).
The boys have them on the left wing and girls have them on the right. Little Squirt has a combination of her mum and dads´ colours to create her own personal band colour.
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| Seal Pups Released Back into the Wild!
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Tony (left) and Joe (right), two of the seal pups that were rescued at the beginning of the summer holidays have been released on 1st October 2020.
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 us for three months or more.
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A special and massive thank you to The Wash Monster crew helping with taking the pups to the sand banks with the other Norfolk Seals.
It has been nice let their customers "participate" to Tony and Joe´s release!
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Sir Tom, the last Seal Pup in the Seal Hospital, is back into natural habitat on 4th November 2020. He was released on the beach in the front of Hunstanton SEA LIFE Centre.
The Animal Care Team have been amazing as always with his rehab.
Bye bye Sir Tom, you are now ready to conquer the sea world!
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| #Lockdown Missing You Video
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During the second Lockdown between 4th November and 2nd December 2020, the residents have been missing you all.
The residents cannot wait to welcome you back to the Sanctuary soon. In the meantime, here is a short video of some of the residents.
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| Interesting News from across the Channel!
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The staff have received some interesting news from across the Channel!
It appears Boy George, one of the rehabilitated seal pups of 2019 rescue season, has ignored travel advice at the start of the year and has made the 360-mile journey to Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Normandy, France.
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The staff were able to verify his identity because each released seal is issued with their own unique tag.
Boy George was found abandoned and malnourished on Mundsley beach in August 2019 and was released earlier this year in January after reaching his target weight.
Au revoir et bonne chance George!
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Click here or on the photo of your choice below to see a larger version of the image.
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Souvenir Guide Books
Here are the front covers of the Sanctuary´s Guide book.
If during your next visit you purchase a copy, the profits go towards the care of the rescued seal pups in the hospital.
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| If you find a Seal in the Wild
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For almost 30 years Hunstanton SEA LIFE Sanctuary has been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing seal pups from the North Sea coastline and beyond that find themselves in trouble, whether it be eye problems, respiratory infections and malnourishment to broken bones, pollution-related problems and being separated from their mother too soon.
A quick reminder that if you discover a seal pup that is in distress or alone, please call the Hunstanton SEA LIFE on 01485 533576.
The Animal Care Team are on call around the clock to race to the rescue of seal pups in trouble anywhere around the coast.
DO keep your distance;
DON´T attempt to handle or touch the pup;
DON´T attempt to put the pup back in the sea;
DON´T ignore the situation;
DO tell the appropriate organisation.
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When you ring, please be prepared to give an exact location of the seal, your contact details, what condition is the seal in for example is it alone, thin, injured or seems unwell (noisy breathing, coughing, runny nose). Tell people around you to keep clear of the seal by at least 50 metres, if you can, draw a circle in the sand around the pup.
Remember most often seals come out of the water on to land to rest, digest after eating their food, relax and sleep.
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What to do if you find a dead seal on beach!
If you come across a dead seal, the advice is not to touch or go near it, please call
West Norfolk council on 01553 616200.
If you find a stranded living marine animal, please call the SEA LIFE Sanctuary on 01485 533576.
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This news update has been put together by volunteers/supporters of the Hunstanton SEA LIFE Sanctuary.
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