Wildlife and Dinosaur Park rescues seals
A local wildlife and dinosaur park has done its part for nature this Christmas by providing homes for seal pups left abandoned on nearby beaches. The picture above shows two seal pups being released on a beach overlooked by our Combe Martin cottages, after being cared for at the nearby Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. The park has been acting as a sanctuary for pups in the area, which has seen an influx this winter. The park has been working with the RSPCA’s West Hatch Wildlife Rescue Centre, helping to provide a temporary home for stranded pups before they are released back into the wild. Combe Martin’s help is welcome for West Hatch, as the centre has faced a significant increase in demand over the winter period after Milford Haven seal sanctuary closed down earlier this year. Park director at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park Dawn Gilbert said her park would provide an “overflow” homing centre for the RSPCA. She said: “We’re really happy we can help West Hatch and it’s a privilege to be able to do it. “Our visitors are also lucky that they get a great chance to see our indigenous grey seals up close.” To house the seals the park has moved its African penguins into an enclosure with Oscar the Great White Pelican, while the penguin’s pool has been adapted to be home to five seal pups at a time once they’ve been initially rehabilitated at West Hatch. 16.12.14
