Cornish Seal Sanctuary welcomes 'cool customer' Cliff the puffin rescued in storm

A puffin rescued after being found washed up on a beach on the Isle of Man in a storm has arrived at his new home in Cornwall.

Cliff the puffin has been transported 475 miles from the Curraghs Wildlife Park to his permanent home on Puffin Island at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, in Gweek — the only rescue facility of its kind in the UK.

The charity said he has joined the sanctuary's existing colony of ten puffins, and has taken the move "in his stride".

Tamara Cooper, curator at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, said: "Here, Cliff will have the opportunity to thrive in a specially designed environment tailored to his needs. So far, he has taken everything in his stride and is a very cool customer!"

Rescuers said Cliff was "in a bit of a state" when he was found washed up on a beach in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, in October 2022.

He was unable to fly and required "urgent attention and care," keepers at Curraghs Wildlife Park said.

The wildlife park said it rescued and rehabilitated Cliff, but he could not be released back into the wild due to his inability to fend for or feed himself.

Kathleen Graham, general manager at Curraghs Wildlife Park, said: "Our vets went above and beyond to care for him - they even moved him into their own flat, where they could use their bath as a pool for him!

"However, it was obvious this could not be a long-term solution. It was hoped that he could be returned quickly back to the wild, but he was still unable to fly, so if he was released, he would not have survived."

Ms Graham said she was "delighted" the Cornish Seal Sanctuary could take him in and to hear that he has settled in well.

"As all the puffins are rescue ones, this is the ideal home for him, and I believe they even have a single lady puffin who hasn’t picked a partner yet…so who knows Cliff may find a little love as well!"