PEMBROKESHIRE: The seal pup who swam 120km from Cornwall to Pembrokeshire in four days — and lived to tell the tale

The pup, affectionately named Muse by staff at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Taunton, was found on the rocks at St Brides Bay in Pembrokeshire on December 11 last year. RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ellie West said she had concerns about him immediately — he was dehydrated, in thin body condition, with obvious rolls of skin that should have been filled with fat and blubber, and was passing dark loose faeces.

But it was only when Ellie noticed unusual spray marks on his back — similar to those used to identify assessed seals — that the full story emerged. The colour was different from those typically used in the area, so she contacted British Divers Marine Life Rescue. They confirmed they had checked on the same pup just four days earlier — on December 7, at Port Gaverne in north Cornwall, some 120km away.

Ellie said: “Muse’s story is such a fascinating one. When I initially assessed him, little did I know that he had travelled such a long way in such a short time.”

At the time of the Cornwall sighting, Muse had been deemed a borderline case — feisty enough to be given another chance in the wild without intervention. But in those four days he had lost more weight, developed mouth ulcers, and made his way all along the south Wales coastline to Pembrokeshire.

Ellie removed him from the beach and gave him tube feeds of electrolyte fluids and fish before transporting him to RSPCA West Hatch, where he was found to have a possible respiratory infection and was given a course of antibiotics.

What followed was a remarkable recovery. Muse self-fed throughout his entire stay at the centre — a strong sign that he was fighting to survive. By Christmas Eve he had gone from 16kg on admission to 19kg, gaining weight consistently each week.

He paired with another seal and moved to shallow outdoor pools in early January, before graduating to the main pre-release pool with 11 other seals at the end of February — competing well for his share of the fish.

Wildlife Supervisor Ryan Walker said: “He’s consistently gained weight each week over the past few months showing he can compete well with the other seals for his share of the fish.” His final recorded weight before release was 41.5kg — nearly tripling in size since he was plucked from the Pembrokeshire beach.

Muse was released at a location in Devon on Wednesday 8 April alongside five other seals rescued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue — all named in keeping with this year’s musicians-and-bands theme at the centre: Jimi Hendrix, Lewis Capaldi, Run DMC, Kate Nash and Oxford Comma.

Ryan said: “It was absolutely wonderful to see Muse along with the group of seals going back to where they belong. They had all been admitted either with injuries, were unwell or were underweight and we have spent the time needed to get them back to full health.”

Each seal pup rehabilitated at West Hatch costs around £1,400 a week in fish and veterinary care during seal season, which typically runs from September to March — underscoring the significant resources required to give animals like Muse a second chance.

Ryan added that Muse’s success was down to a team effort from rescuers, vets, staff, volunteers and supporters. “Their success stories are down to a real team effort — and to our supporters who generously help us so we can continue what we do,” he said.

The RSPCA is urging anyone who spots a seal on a beach to observe from a distance and not to approach — seals have a nasty bite if threatened, and dog owners are advised to keep pets on leads on beaches with seal colonies. If a pup appears distressed, injured or unwell, or is on a busy public beach and the mother has not returned after 24 hours, the RSPCA emergency line should be called.

Ellie added that in west Wales, grey seals are the most commonly seen species, and that pups with a long white coat of fur are likely still dependent on their mother. Those who have lost this fur are at the weaned stage — and are the most common casualties the RSPCA receives calls about. “Our main message is if they look in distress or unwell please call it in,” she said.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Elvis has left the building: rescued seal pup returns to the wild after months of rehab
Another RSPCA seal rescue story from our archive.

Chaos, heartbreak and toothbrushes: RSPCA heroes look back 30 years after the Sea Empress disaster
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Pet sitter and partner charged £1,400 before videos exposed sickening dog abuse

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/petsitter-solihull-dog-animal-abuse-37023768

Mass Poodle Discovery Highlights Escalating Animal Welfare Concerns

Over 250 poodles were found in a Nottingham home in bad conditions. This shows a growing problem of animal neglect from too much breeding.

#PoodleRescue, #AnimalWelfare, #Nottingham, #RSPCA, #DogNeglect

https://newsletter.tf/250-poodles-found-nottingham-breeding-welfare-concern/

Over 250 poodles were found in one house in Nottingham, showing a big rise in animal welfare cases.

#PoodleRescue, #AnimalWelfare, #Nottingham, #RSPCA, #DogNeglect
https://newsletter.tf/250-poodles-found-nottingham-breeding-welfare-concern/

RSPCA refutes AI allegations over 'shocking image' of dogs

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/rspca-refutes-ai-allegations-over-33735604

Il Fatto Quotidiano: Scoiattoli fimati mentre “svapano” sigarette elettroniche raccolte dalla strada: i video virali e i pericoli per i piccoli roditori

È un’immagine che colpisce, e no, Zootropolis non c’entra. È un vero scoiattolo quello che, in un video diventato virale, tiene tra le zampine una sigaretta elettronica. Siamo a Brixton, nel sud di Londra, e la storia arriva dal Telegraph. Il piccolo roditore sembra rosicchiare il dispositivo: ad attirarlo, spiegano gli esperti, non sarebbe la nicotina ma l’odore fruttato tipico di alcune e-cig che viene scambiato per cibo. E non si tratta di un caso isolato: online circolano più video simili, girati anche in altre città.
“Un tempo si vedevano molti mozziconi di sigaretta abbandonati, ma non ricordo scoiattoli che li raccogliessero. È ragionevole pensare che una sigaretta elettronica, con aromi fruttati, sia più attraente rispetto a un prodotto del tabacco tradizionale”, spiega Craig Shuttleworth, esperto di scoiattoli rossi all’Università di Bangor.
Il rischio per gli animali è concreto
Il rischio è concreto. Gli animali possono ingerire microplastiche mentre rosicchiano i dispositivi, ma anche assumere nicotina, una sostanza che non incontrano in natura. “È un chiaro promemoria dei rischi che i rifiuti abbandonati rappresentano per la fauna selvatica. Invitiamo a smaltirli in modo sicuro e responsabile”, sottolinea un portavoce della Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA=.
Non si tratterebbe nemmeno di un caso isolato. La stessa RSPCA aveva già segnalato la morte di un uccello in Nuova Zelanda dopo aver ingerito una sigaretta elettronica. “È solo la punta dell’iceberg, perché molti incidenti che coinvolgono la fauna selvatica non vengono né visti né segnalati”, spiega l’esperta Evie Button. E il problema non riguarda solo gli animali selvatici: il Veterinary Poisons Information Service ha registrato 680 segnalazioni legate alle e-cig dal 2017, il 96% delle quali riguarda cani.
L'articolo Scoiattoli fimati mentre “svapano” sigarette elettroniche raccolte dalla strada: i video virali e i pericoli per i piccoli roditori proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Raccoon filmed while “vaping” electronic cigarettes collected from the street: viral videos and the dangers for small rodents.

It’s a striking image, and no, Zootopia has nothing to do with it. It’s a real squirrel that, in a video that has gone viral, holds an e-cigarette between its tiny paws. We are in Brixton, in south London, and the story comes from The Telegraph. The small rodent appears to be gnawing on the device: experts say it’s not the nicotine that attracts it, but the fruity scent typical of some e-cigs, which is mistaken for food. And it’s not an isolated case: several similar videos are circulating online, filmed in other cities as well.

“You used to see many cigarette butts discarded, but I don’t remember squirrels collecting them. It’s reasonable to think that an e-cigarette, with fruity flavors, is more attractive than traditional tobacco,” explains Craig Shuttleworth, an expert on red squirrels at Bangor University.

The risk to animals is real. Animals can ingest microplastics while gnawing on devices, but they can also absorb nicotine, a substance they don’t encounter in nature. “It’s a clear reminder of the risks that abandoned waste represents for wildlife. We urge people to dispose of them safely and responsibly,” says a spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

It wouldn’t even be an isolated case. The RSPCA had already reported the death of a bird in New Zealand after having ingested an e-cigarette. “It’s just the tip of the iceberg, because many incidents involving wildlife are neither seen nor reported,” explains expert Evie Button. And the problem isn’t just affecting wild animals: the Veterinary Poisons Information Service has recorded 680 reports related to e-cigs since 2017, 96% of which involve dogs.

The article Squirrels filmed while “vaping” e-cigarettes collected from the street: viral videos and dangers for the small rodents comes from Il Fatto Quotidiano.

#Raccoon #Zootopia #Brixton #London #Telegraph #CraigShuttleworth #BangorUniversity #RSPCA #NewZealand #EvieButton #Squirrels #IlFattoQuotidiano

https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/03/28/scoiattoli-fimati-mentre-svapano-sigarette-elettroniche-raccolte-dalla-strada-i-video-virali-e-i-pericoli-per-i-piccoli-roditori/8338503/

I agree with the #RSPCA , we should have a #rat (as well as #pigeons and #gulls ) on our #banknotes, they are valid #British #wildlife 🐀 🕊️ (there isn't an emoji for a gull)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy03zy1lr8go

'I went to Bucharest to see what the UK Government's new dog rules really mean'

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/i-went-bucharest-see-what-36856245