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Welcome to our News Update for Summer 2023, if you are visiting the Hunstanton SEA LIFE, don´t forget to purchase your entrance tickets in advance.
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Common Seal Pups Rescue of the Season!
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Members of the public were out on their early morning walk at Snettisham beach on the 18th of June 2023 when they heard a young seal pup crying out and noticed that it seemed confused.
The people didn´t want to walk away and not do anything so they reported a potential unwell seal to the Hunstanton SEA LIFE. The supervisor arranged for some members of the Animal Care Team to observe and check on the pup.
As the pup was alone and with no sign of mum, the team took the decision to rescue. She is estimated to be about 10 days old at the time of rescue. She was found incredibly skinny and in need of some serious TLC! Click here to read more.
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Rubicon was rescued on the 23rd of June 2023 from Snettisham beach after being separated by his mum. Assistant Curator Sophie travelled to the beach and saw that Rubicon was alone and distressed in the middle of a mud flat. Some time later both a very muddy Rubicon and Sophie were back at the hospital. The animal care team estimate that at the time of the rescue, Rubicon was between 2 and 3 weeks old. He is the second pup of the 2023 commons rescue season!
Click here to read more.
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Nesquik was rescued on the 29th of June 2023 from Heacham beach after being separated from his mum. Assistant Curator Sophie and Operations Manager Lauren travelled to the beach and saw that Nesquik was alone and distressed and had clearly been alone for a long time. After a quick beach assessment, Sophie and Lauren took Nesquik back to the seal hospital.
The team estimate that at the time of rescue Nesquik was between 3 and 7 days old. His umbilicus was still intact when he was found, meaning he is very much a newborn and should have spent much more time with his mother. He is the third pup of the 2023 common rescue season!
Click here to read more.
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We have the most MERMAZING news!
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The mer-people are coming to SEA LIFE Hunstanton this summer.
Come along on either the 22nd or 23rd of August 2023 for a magical, after-hours mermaid show!
Find out more and book
your tickets here in advance!
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Global Beach Clean Day - 8th June!
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Staff at Hunstanton SEA LIFE took part in the Global beach clean with the help of a group of school children from Winthorpe Primary School who were having a sleepover experience! Click here to see larger version of these photos.
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The results are in...and SEA LIFE Trust has set a new record! ??
In fact, this year saw the biggest SEA LIFE TRUST Global Beach Clean to date, and we couldn´t do it without you.
A huge thank you to the 1,643 people from around the world who helped collect almost 3,000kg of litter - that´s pretty amazing!
Check out the full results and photo video right here. SEA LIFE TRUST can´t wait to see you for the next one in 2024.
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Meet the new resident Common Seal, Caledonia aka Callie (photos below), she was born at St Andrews Aquarium in Scotland last June. Callie became a resident at the Hunstanton SEA LIFE in May 2023 and she is enjoying being with the resident adult seals. Especially with the older ladies, Sally and Amber.
Click here to see a larger version of these selection of photos.
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Click here to see a larger version of these selection of photos of the resident common seals, Amber, Sally, Lora, Pippa and Macey.
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Did you know...Humboldts Humboldts are under threat from natural predators such as sharks but mankind has also had a big impact through fishing and disruption of habitats.
Click here to see a larger version of these photo below of the Humboldt Penguins.
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Did you know that Inca Tern (Larosterna inca) is a bird of the Humboldt Current region. It breeds from Lobos de Tierra in northern Peru south to the Aconcagua River near Valparaiso, Chile.
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Summer and Twix, Asian Short-Clawed Otters, waiting for their breakfast!
Click here to see a larger version of these selection of photos.
Did you know that the long stiff hairs on the otter´s coat, known as guard hairs, are coated with oil which repels water. Underneath the guard hairs, closer to the skin, the otter has a dense layer of warm fur which keeps them warm whether on dry land or swimming underwater.
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Shark and Ray Awareness Day - 14th July
Our seas and oceans are full of so many species of sharks and rays of all shapes and sizes!
It´s incredibly important to continue to care for our seas to positively impact amazing sharks and rays who play important roles in our ecosystems.
Have you seen the baby sharks at SEA LIFE Hunstanton? These Spotty California Horn Shark Pups were hatched and are part of a Europe wide breeding programme in which SEA LIFE Hunstanton? have been successful in breeding for multiple years! The Displays team at Hunstanton are super proud to be part of this programme.
Did you know that SEA LIFE Hunstanton have more than 5 different species of Shark?
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| If you find a Seal in the Wild
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For over 34 years Hunstanton SEA LIFE 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 and/or the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) team on 01825 765546.
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 and/or the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) team on 01825 765546.
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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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Click here to download Hunstanton SEA LIFE´s leaflet for 2023
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VIP Experience feeding the Resident Seals
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Did you know you can feed the six resident Common Harbour Seals at SEA LIFE Hunstanton?
In this VIP Experience, you will get to feed the seals their fishy feed with a member of the animal care team on hand to assist you and answer any questions you might have.
You´ll get to learn all about the seals, their diets and habitats but be careful they like to splash!
For more information please click here and to book your VIP Experience.
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| Say No to the "Flying Rings"
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Did you know flying rings can have a detrimental impact on our marine environment...especially for the seals living on our coast?
These rings can be dangerous and even deadly, please support the Seal Group Research Trust with their campaign to encourage people to only use solid discs near the water.
Find out everything you need to know right here
Want to take it further? Click on this link to sign the petition to "Ban the sale of flying plastic rings to help protect marine wildlife". Share this link on your social media platforms i.e. Facebook, etc.,
***We have a PDF poster which we would like you to share with your friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues, etc., this would be massively helpful. Click here to download.***
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This news update has been put together by volunteers/supporters of the Hunstanton SEA LIFE.
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