Parsley was rescued on 18th August 2022
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First whitecoat seal pup of 2022/23 rescued season, Parsley, only a few days old, was rescued from a small beach near Portherras Cove, West Cornwall, on 18th August 2022 by members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) marine mammal medics.
She was found starving to death alone on a small beach calling out for her mum.
© Photo Credit : Dan Jarvis - BDMLR
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Volunteer medics from the BDMLR were first alerted to her the day before, and the decision was taken to monitor her in case her mother was nearby.
© Photo Credit : Chris Webber - BDMLR
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However, after keeping eyes on her for 24 hours, she was transferred to Head & Head Vets in Helston following signs of starving behaviour, such as roaming the beach and calling out.
© Photo Credit : Chris Webber - BDMLR
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On arrival, vets found she was likely just a few days old, with her umbilicus still attached, an ulcer in her left eye and weighing in at just 10.3kg - less than the standard 14kg for a new-born pup.
Click here to read the press release.
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Update - 25th August 2022 : Parsley is being cared for in the Seal Hospital, with regular night feeds and continuous monitoring until she can reach full health and return back into the wild.
As you can see she is really enjoying having a swim in her hospital pen.
Click here to watch the "Behind the Scenes" video with Parsley in the hospital.
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Update - 6th September 2022 : After coming to the Sanctuary in mid-August as a very young, underweight pup, Parsley had been responding well to her treatment and was slowly putting on weight. She had been having daily paddles to encourage her to interact with her fish and to help her with her progress, with hopes she would be able to make a successful return to the sea.
Jana Sirova, the Sanctuary´s General Manager, said "This weekend Parsley became a little quiet and developed a high temperature. The team jumped into action and the vets prescribed another course of treatment which she began to respond to. On Monday morning (4th September), Parsley fed as normal and had her morning paddle without concern but by mid-morning we found she was tiring, which was then followed by a seizure.
Our fantastic vet team at Head & Head Veterinary Centre responded quickly and tried everything to help her, but, despite everyone’s best efforts, it became clear there was nothing more that could be done. Parsley was allowed to pass away. She has since been taken for a post mortem, so we can find out more. So far, results are showing some abnormalities on her brain and the team are determined to investigate further, with samples now being sent to the lab.
This news is devastating for our team, who have worked tirelessly night and day to support Parsley at her most vulnerable time of life. However, the reality of our rescue and rehab works means that, while we are able to save the vast majority, we cannot always save every pup. A huge thank you to our team and our wider support network who helped us keep Parsley fighting for as long as we could, and to the public whose donations make this vital work possible every day."
This photo below of much loved Parsley was taken on 3rd September 2022.
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