Rescued Ilfracombe seal is doing well

THE seal rescued from Ilfracombe Harbour beach last week is doing well as she recovers from her ordeal. The four week old female pup has been named Thrift by staff at West Hatch RSPCA Animal Rescue Centre near Taunton and has already become a hit with her

THE seal rescued from Ilfracombe Harbour beach last week is doing well as she recovers from her ordeal.

The four week old female pup has been named Thrift by staff at West Hatch RSPCA Animal Rescue Centre near Taunton and has already become a hit with her carers.

"They said she is lovely, really gentle and they all like her," said Claire Rollitt at Argyll Veterinary Clinic in Ilfracombe, which treated Thrift before she was moved to West Hatch.

"She was underweight when found at about 10 kilos and she will not be able to be released until she weighs about 50. She definitely needed to be rescued."

Thrift was found washed up on the beach following a high spring tide and was rescued by voluntary organisation British Divers Marine Life Rescue, with assistance from Ilfracombe Aquarium and other local people.

At four weeks she would have been far too young to survive on her own and there was no sign of her mother.

At West Hatch she is being treated for a shoulder wound and is on antibiotics. She is being tube fed but is also taking some fish on her own and as soon as she can eat by herself she will be moved to a pool with other seal pups.