A distressed grey seal pup found near Grattan Beach this week has been sent to a sanctuary in Wexford.
The male Atlantic Grey seal pup was discovered by City Council workers on Tuesday morning on the footpath near the lifeguard hut just off the beach. Rescue workers described the pup’s condition as “thin and dehydrated”.
The baby seal is estimated to be two weeks old.
Mary Joyce Glynn from Galway & Claddagh Swan Rescue, who took part in the rescue operation, explained that at this age pups should be constantly in their mothers care.
They still moult their white feathers at this age, and do not enter the water until their feathers are fully moulted at three to four weeks old – under their mother’s guidance.
Some pups are separated from their mothers before they have a chance to learn their smell and call. If the mother does not recognise her pup, she will not allow it to suckle from her.
However, in this case it is believed the young pup was separated from his mother while she was out to sea during stormy weather conditions – causing the pup to panic and move further inland.
For more on the seal and his fate, see this week’s Galway City Tribune
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