Displaying items by tag: harbour seal

19th October 2021

Belfast Lough Seal Spotted With Can Stuck on Jaw Rescued in Scotland

A young harbour seal spotted in Belfast Lough earlier this month with an aluminium can stuck on its lower jaw has been rescued by police in Scotland.

The Irish News reports that the juvenile marine mammal had swum across the North Channel from Belfast Lough to the west coast of Scotland last weekend.

Officers from the Ministry of Defence Police at Clyde naval base were able to approach the seal and remove the drinks can, which was stuck to the animal’s mouth after its teeth had pierced the metal.

An MoD spokesperson said: “We would urge people to take extra care in how they dispose of their rubbish near any waterway.”

Lagan Search & Rescue, which led the search effort for the seal in Northern Ireland, commented on social media: “We are delighted to hear that its ordeal has had such a positive outcome.”

Published in Marine Wildlife

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Search Continues in Belfast Lough for Seal Spotted With Can Stuck on Jaw

The search continues in Belfast Lough for a young harbour seal spotted with an aluminium can stuck on its lower jaw in recent days.

According to BBC News, the seal was spotted on Wednesday (6 October) in a state of distress.

But despite attempts by Belfast Harbour Police to help, the marine mammal swam away and has not been sighted since.

Lagan Search and Rescue is assisting in the search along with experts from Portaferry’s Exploris Aquarium and others.

And it asks that any sightings be reported to Debbie Doolittle’s Wild Life and that “nobody attempts to help the seal [themselves]”.

Published in Marine Wildlife

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Seriously Ill Seal Pup Now In Recovery

#MARINE WILDLIFE - A harbour seal pup found in a serious condition in Balbriggan last week is new recovering in the care of the Irish Seal Sanctuary.

Colin, as he has been named by ISS volunteers, was discovered on Kings Beach suffering from blood loss and breathing problems, the Fingal Independent reports.

An ISS spokesperson remarked that it was "very unusual" to find harbour seal pups this late in the year, and in an area dominated by colonies of grey seals.

Thanks to medicine donated by the Dogs Aid veterinary clinic in north Dublin, Colin is now "making great progress" though full recovery will take some time.

The seal pup will remain in the care of the ISS until he is fit enough to be returned to Balbriggan for release.

Published in Marine Wildlife

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.