5-day-old seal rescued thanks to some inquisitive cows in Lincolnshire

A 5-day-old seal was rescued from a field on Frampton Marshes - thanks to inquisitive cows and a concerned passer-by.

Ian Ellis from Boston was walking on Frampton Marshes when he noticed a herd of thirty cows behaving strangely around a muddy puddle. Looking through his telescope he realised the cows were surrounding a tiny seal pup who had hauled out of a creek in their field. With the mother nowhere to be seen, staff from the RSPB Reserve and Skegness Natureland combined forces to move the pup to safety.

The orphaned seal was taken for treatment at Natureland's Seal Hospital, where staff identified she had lost weight and was dehydrated, as she hadn't fed for a while. Director Richard Yeadon said, "“We gave her rehydration fluid through a stomach tube and are now giving her high fat herrings which will help her gain back the weight. She is also on a course of antibiotics to combat a breathing problem. Once she is stronger, she will continue through the rehabilitation process until she is 60-70lb and is able to feed in the water by herself. We will then release her back to the wild.”

The seal, who's now been named Celebration, is progressing well and is looking forward to a second chance of life in the wild.