| "Hot Cross Bun" heads home : seal rescued from entanglement released as Sanctuary urges action on bycatch!
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A seal pup who became the face of a conversation about bycatch has been released back to the wild by the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.
Hot Cross Bun was rescued on the 10th of April 2026 from Nanjizal after members of the public reported him entangled in rope netting. Luckily volunteer marine mammal medics from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) were able to rush to help, safely remove the net and deliver the poorly pup for urgent attention at the Seal Sanctuary.
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Photos Credit : Alison Davey - BDMLR
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On arrival at the Sanctuary hospital in Gweek, Cornwall, staff found that the netting had caused wide, deep wounds across the back of his neck.
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Despite the severity of his injuries on arrival, Hot Cross Bun recovered well. The animal care team cleaned and treated his wounds daily, and within a week they were already showing signs of healing. After just three weeks he had progressed from the hospital unit to the rehabilitation pools, where time in saltwater helped his recovery along.
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Hot Cross Bun was released on the 10th of June 2026 alongside pool mate Churro, weighing in at 36kg, healthy, strong, and bearing only some scarring as a lasting reminder of his ordeal.
This final release marks the close of the Sanctuary´s 2025-2026 rehabilitation season.
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Grace Jones, Conservation Coordinator at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, said "Watching Hot Cross Bun return to the wild is a reminder of both the resilience of marine wildlife and the challenges it faces. While his story has a happy ending, many animals are not so lucky. Reducing bycatch is one of the most important steps we can take to better protect our marine and coastal species."
It has been a demanding season for the Sanctuary´s team. Across 8,460 hours of care, staff and volunteers treated 47 rescued pups, 72.3% of which arrived wounded, with others presenting as malnourished or suffering from respiratory conditions. The team got through 8,000kg of fish, 658 towels, and 10,150 wellington boot changes along the way.
Among the season´s other memorable cases was Cream Puff (photos below), a white coat pup rescued at just one day old; the youngest admitted this season. She required tube feeding and assisted feeding for more than two months before gradually learning to feed independently, ultimately spending six months in care before her release in March 2026.
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Photo Credit (left) : Chris Webber - BDMLR
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Also noteworthy was Abeona (photos below), who underwent surgery to remove an eye damaged in a suspected entanglement, yet recovered so well she was released just two months after her operation.
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Bethan, Animal Care Specialist, said "Every seal pup that comes through our doors has a unique story, and this season has certainly kept us on our toes. From tiny pups requiring round-the-clock feeds to complex medical cases like Hot Cross Bun and Abeona, it´s been incredibly rewarding to watch these animals recover and return to the wild where they belong."
"As we finish one rehabilitation season, preparations are already underway for the next. We spend the summer maintaining our facilities, replenishing essential supplies and making sure we´re ready for the first pups of the autumn. Support from our visitors, donors and adopters helps make this work possible".
All pups are released once they reach a healthy weight and the team is confident they are ready to fend for themselves. The Sanctuary´s rescue and rehabilitation work is made possible through the support of donors, visitors to the Sanctuary, and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who carry out many of the initial rescues along the coast.
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Press Release issued by the Cornish Seal Sanctuary
For more details, please contact Jasmine Chater, Marketing Coordinator, on 01326 221361
Issue Date: 17th June 2026
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