Popeye, the common seal pup rescued from the Tees in the North East of England in early July, has officially made it back to the sea after a challenging rehabilitation journey.
He first arrived at the BDMLR North East Seal Triage Unit weighing in at just 7.8kg and in a critical condition. Severely dehydrated and malnourished, he was also battling early-stage mouth rot and a severe eye infection. With no clear cause for his injuries, the team’s priority was stabilising him and providing the intensive care he urgently needed.
After dedicated treatment by Medics at NEST, Popeye began to improve and was transferred to Tynemouth Seal Hospital to continue his rehabilitation. But his progress was far from straightforward. Despite every effort, the eye infection worsened and the seal’s eye eventually ruptured. He was readmitted to the NEST Unit to support him with specialist veterinary treatment and pre-op and post-operative care, supported by the veterinary team at Robson & Prescott who then later operated to remove the eye altogether. Further complications followed a gastric infection, and an abscess – each requiring additional treatment, monitoring, and importantly, time.
Despite the setbacks, Popeye recovered well with thanks to the combined efforts of the teams caring for him. Following months of round-the-clock care, wound management, medication and preparation to look after himself as a wild seal, he reached a healthy release weight of 39kg – five times his admission weight. Seals cope remarkably well in the wild with one eye, and there are several cases of wild seals reaching grand old ages with impaired vision.
Last week, the three teams from NEST, Tynemouth Seal Hospital and Robson & Prescott Vets came together to release him back into the wild. It was a proud moment and a testament to the collaborative work that has resulted in this successful marine mammal rescue. Recovery is rarely linear, and Popeye’s story highlights how perseverance and diligent care, even the most vulnerable patients can thrive.
From a critically ill pup to healthy seal – good luck out there, Popeye!
