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The
National Seal Sanctuary in Gweek was the brain child of retired
Welsh miner Ken Jones.
He
moved to Cornwall in 1958 to set up a beach cafe business on the
north Cornis coast.
The
concept of the Sanctuary was developed aftter he found a young abandoned
Grey Seal pup on the beach. This incident helped Ken Jones to decide
what he wanted to do with his retirement in Cornwall.
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| You
can watch seals swimming at the Sanctuary |
While
based on the north coast of Cornwall Ken nursed many seals back
to health. Eventually The Seal Sanctuary moved to its now well known
home back in 1975.
The
work of the Sanctuary
Each
year more than 30 seals are rescued from probable death and taken
to the National Seal Sanctuary. A rescue normally begins with a
phone call to the Gweek base from a member of the public. After
some initial questions to the person who found the pup the team
will be able to ascertain whether the seal needs help.
Some
seals arrive at the Sanctuary in a very sick and injured condition,
some are close to death. The dedicated veterinary team will often
work through the night to do everything possible to stabilise the
seal's condition.
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| This is
the life - sunbathing at the National Seal Sanctuary |
Once
the seal is on the road to recovery it continues its recuperation
in one of the outdoor pools where you can enjoy watching the seals
swimming, sun bathing and eating lots of fish!
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The
aims of the Sanctuary
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- To
rescue and provide professional treatment for sick, injured
or distressed marine animals who are found around our shores
- no animal is ever turned away.
- To
rehabilitate or provide and maintain a home for the unfortunate
animals who would otherwise perish in the wild.
- To
release the rehabilitated marine animals safely back into
their natural environment.
- To
create a greater awareness of the marine environment through
the work which is undertake
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The
site of the Sanctuary covers some 40 acres and, as well as having
a fully equipped seal hospital, it also features 10 outdoor pools,
some with underwater viewing. These can provide spectacular sights
of the seals swimming on their backs underwater. The animals are
inquisitive and will often come up to your viewing spot to check
you out!
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| You can
watch the seals swimming outdoors and underwater. |
The
pools provide a home for both recuperating pups destined for release
and for some resident adults that, for a variety of reasons, would
be unable to look after themselves in the wild.
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