A rescue effort was launched yesterday after a sickly seal pup was discovered bleeding on a Moray beach.
The little animal – reckoned to be between a month and six weeks old – was spotted looking sorry for itself on Findhorn Bay at noon.
Experts believe the young mammal became separated from its mother on the west beach, and may have hurt itself after growing disorientated while trying to return to sea.
The pup could have been stranded for as long as 16 hours before a member of the public alerted the local branch of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) group.
Volunteer Simon Paterson dashed to the beach, lifted up the poorly creature and carried it about a mile back to his base.
The marine medic explained that the animals would normally put up a fight against being manhandled – but that the pup in question was so tired it barely mustered any resistance.
Mr Paterson said: “The technical term for picking seals up is ‘jumping’ them, but there wasn’t much of that required in this case.
“I picked it up and carried it to the shore, because it seemed very tired. It had been bleeding from the mouth, but I don’t think the injuries were too serious.
“We can’t throw a pup of this size back in the water though, as it has been separated from its mother and may not survive out there alone.
“The good news is that this is definitely a seal that can be saved.”
The gender of the animal was not known, but it bore a plastic tag on a flipper which had been attached by a visiting team from London Zoo.
Mr Paterson also runs wildlife trips around Findhorn Bay with the North 58 company, and said it was “uncommon” for a seal to become stranded on the beach.
The Scottish SPCA arrived on the scene in the early evening to transport the seal to a recovery centre in Alloa.
Any readers who spot animals in similar distress across the north and north-east coast are encouraged to call the BDMLR on 01825 765546.
