A COMMUNITY effort helped rescue a seal in distress on a Donegal beach.
The grey seal pup was spotted by walkers on Binnion Beach near Clonmany
Members from the Clonmany Community Centre were assisted by volunteers from Seal Rescue Ireland.
Clonmany Community Centre say they will now help to train locals as Seal Rescue volunteers ‘to help create awareness about what and what not to do in this situation and how you can help out’.
They said: “If you are out walking and spot a seal in danger please contact the seal rescue and keep 100 metres distance and ask all walkers to please keep their dogs on their leash to prevent further stress until a volunteer arrives.
“If you are not in a position to wait for assistance please contact our team in Clonmany Youth and Community Resource Centre on 07493 76772.”
The following advice has been issued to members of the public:
– Do not put the seal in the water. (Injured, sick & newborn pups are on land for a reason)
– Do not disturb them – Observe from a distance.
– Do not touch pups (these animals WILL bite, and human presence may lead to mothers abandoning otherwise healthy pups)
– Keep dogs and children away.
– Take photos! (They help us determine the condition of an animal immediately, and if necessary a rescue can be organised promptly.)
– Grey seal pups have white fur for the first 3 weeks of life and tend to stay on land until they moult to their spotted coat. During this time the mother will leave them for hours at a time alone on the beach. This doesn’t mean they are necessarily abandoned!
– Contact us for advice!
* If the pup is on its own with no mum in sight; obviously injured; or if unsure please ring Seal Rescue Ireland on 087 1955 393 *
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