Be a part of what we do.



Voluneering

If you would like to come and volunteer with us please use the information below.

Contact Clare on:

Email - sealrehabrelease2022@hotmail.com

You can also use the contact form on this website just be sure to add your email address otherwise I will not be able to reply.

We take volunteers on from abroad for a minimum of 3-4 weeks. You will have free onsite accommodation. Food is not provided.

We also take on students from all universities that would like practical experience to coincide with studying.

 

When the story is said and done, our little bit may be invisible, but if we help encourage, push, and nudge things along, if we can just help, that would be fine. 
Each of us has the power to inspire, support us to support our marine mammals.

"Some of the greatest minds on earth live in the seas."

Caithness Seal Rehab & Release is the only seal sanctuary in the whole of Caithness and Sutherland. The closest sanctuary is over 190 miles away which is a long and stressful trip for a young seal pup. We rescue pups from Durness, all along the north coast, down the east coast as far down as Tain. We also rescue pups from the Isle of Harris,  Isle of Lewis, Isle of Skye and North/South Uist.

Featured Sponsors and Donations

Thank you to Kelly Murphy for our wonderful seal badges to sell. They are fantastic.

 

Thank you to Mary & Will Bushell for their kind donation to Caithness Seal Rehab & Release.

Thank you to Billy Tomlinson for his generous donation of fish to stock our freezer, keep them coming.

 

Thank you to Jo & Karina at the Crofters Snug for their very generous donation, it is much appreciated.

Thank you to Kathy Thomas, Ivor Thomas, George Pain and Tom Armitage for all your hard, valuable work and time.

 

Also thank you to Kathy & ivor for their generous donation. You are stars.

Thank you to our neighbors, Julie & Phil for all your hard work digging us the swimming pool and drainage. The digger & dumper were invaluable, as was your hard work.

 

Thank you to Tom Armitage for donating almost half of his wages earned working for us, to the seals.

Thank you to Julie & Phil for donating two heat mats to the centre. Costing just over £500. The seals will love you.

How it all began.......

Thank you to all involved, we could not have done it without you.

Our first task was to get the outside deep pool done before the weather turned nasty. Lucky for us, the sun stayed out and work began. Quite a daunting task building a swimming pool. We had help from all out friends, the Duncansby Coastguard team and one or two campers. I must admit, the pool does look inviting. The area around the pool is securely fenced off so pups can't escape. Next, we began work on the hospital area indoors. The walls have been sealed and painted. The floor has been sealed and painted. The electrics have been done, as has the plumbing. We are just waiting on our panels for the seal pens then I think we are all geared up. There is still a bit of work to do in the paddling pool, rockery room. But this will be finished in the next week or so.

How the hospital has progressed.

Our nursery for the older, healthy pups. Pens can be moved around, made different sizes or removed altogether. There is access to the pool for those pups that are ready to learn how to swim, dive, hunt for fish and eat idependently before being released.

Our food prep room has been designed to be hygenic and aesy to clean. There is a large freezer where we store our fish needed for feeding.

Our ICU for the sick and injured pups. The pups have an individual pen catered to their need. We have heat mats and heat lamps if needed. And pups are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our new quarantine building with three individual pens and a swimming pool. This is where pups are first admitted for monitoring over the next ten to fourteen days, for any viruses, bacterial infections etc. before they are moved over to the ICU. The pens are equipped with heat lamps and mats.

Caithness Seal rehab & Release News letter.

Issue No.1

                       Please click on the link below, this will take you to the full news letter.

This is our first one and we hope you enjoy reading it.

All donations are accepted
Approximately £10,000.00 was raised in 2023 by donations from the very generous members of the public, all of whom are super stars and have given our seal pups a new life in the wild. This includes a £3500.00 donation from Jaqueline Dowell. Money raised was from between March 2023 and November 2023. This is used for veterinary visits, medication, blood tests, and of course, for fish.

Click the button bellow to donate

From December 2023 through to December 2024 we are hoping to raise another £12,000.00 to cover the costs for fish, veterinary fees and consumables. We are also going to raise money on our Crowdfunder page to be able to build a new quarantine building and pool. Up until December 2024 we have raised £31,680.00.This includes £450.00 from Jacks Flooring, for sponsoring "Jan" the seal pup. Approximately £20,000.00 was raised on our Crowdfunder page, most of the support coming from the Aviva Community Fund (Aviva employees) and around £11,230.00 was raised by donations from our spectacular supporters. What a fantastic effort to all our supporters, from all visitors to the cafe, campsite and B&B. Thank you very much.

Funding for 2025

Thank you to Stroupster Community Fund, again, for supporting us. The money received will go towards a new trailer for transporting sea water to the pools. And for a new hot water power washer.

Funding for 2023/2024

A very big thank you goes out to Stroupster Community Fund, Foundation Scotland and Greencoat Fund for generously funding us with £15,000.00 to enable us to carry out the necessary improvements needed in the hospital .

Thank you to Animal Friends Pet Insurance for donating £5000.00 towards hospital improvements. What a fantastic start to our fundraising.

Thank you to Dounreay Communities Fund for donating £5000.00 towards the hospital improvements. All three funders have helped us achieve our goal for 2023 and we appreciate everyones support.

Thank you to the Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust for donating £2000.00 to the charity to go towards purchasing fish for the seals.

Rescues for the 2022/2023 Season

For the grey pupping season of 2022 we rescued in total 14 seal pups. We went out to numerous other calls where pups were found to be healthy enough to leave where they were.

Our first seal pup was Arrabella, from Dunnet beach on the 8th November; 2nd was Bunty from Noss Head on the 16th November; 3rd was Clyde from Dunbeath on the 19th November; 4th was Lars from Dunbeath on the 19th November; 5th was Olive from Murkle on the 20th November; 6th was Ernie from Dunnet beach on the 20th November: 7th was Spike from Staxigoe on the 23rd November; 8th was Johnny from John 'O Groats on the 23rd November; 9th was Dinky from Brough Bay on the 27th November; 10th was Lucky from Dunnet beach on the 10th December;  11th was Davina from Gills Bay on the 28th December; 12th was Fred from Freswick beach on the 5th January; 13th was Bruce from Keiss beach on the 29th January; 14th was Cupid from Brora on the 14th February.

Common Seal Pups of 2023

In 2023 we admitted six common seals into the hospital for care.

Our first pup was Midge from Loch Fleet on the 3rd June. Unfortunately Midge did not make it to release.

Our second pup was Gordina from Loch Fleet on the 22nd June.

Third was Griff from Embo on the 1st July.

Fourth was Gilbert from Embo on the 2nd July

Fifth was Glory from Loch Fleet on the 5th July

And lastly was Tom from Peedie Beach on the 9th August

All five commons were released back into the wild.

9th was Lordy from Dwarick on the 25th November.

10th was Fandango from Keiss Beach on the 29th November.

11th was Lucky from Fraserburgh on the 4th December.

12th was Ruddolph from Keiss Beach on the 6th December

13th was Lybby from Lybster on the 11th December.

14th was Pip from Keiss Beach on the 13th December.

15th was Niahm/Neave from Wick on the 18th December.

16th was Frosty from Scrabster on the 22nd December.

17th was Comet from Brough Bay on the 28th December.

18th was Bobby from Strathy Beach on the 31st December.

19th was Raffin from Clatcholl on the 1st January.

20th was Primrose from Brough Bay on the 10th January.

And last, 21st, was Jan on the 13th March.

Grey Seal Pups of 2023/2024

We have admitted 21 grey seals pups into the hospital.

Our first grey seal pup of the 2023/2024 season was our very special Blossom, from Dunbeath on the 22nd October.

2nd was Mally from Tain on the 25th October.

3rd was Mylo from the Isle of Lewis on the 26th October.

4th was scooby from Reiss Beach on the 28th October.

5th was Scrappy from Helmsdale on the 3rd November.

6th was Honky from the Isle of Skye on the 14th November

7th was Truffle from Ackergill on the 16th November.

8th was Zigzag from Wick on the 17th November.

 

Pup No.9 - Sweetpea 22/06/2024 - From Isle of Lewis weighing in at 9.6kg

Pup No.10 - Beetroot - From Isle of Benecula weighing in at 7.9kg

Pup No.11 - Rhubarb 01/07/2024 - From Little Ferry weighing in at 8.5kg

Pup No.12 - Bean  07/07/2024 - From Ardvar (Assynt) weighing in at 6.6kg

Pup No.13 - Turnip 08/07/2024 - From Brora weighing in at 9.3kg

Pup No.14 - Aubergine 18/07/2024 - From Findhorn weighing in at 8.2kg

Pup No.15 - Spinach 22/07/2024 - From Isle of Lewis weighing in at 7.9kg

Pup No.16 - Cucumber 31/07/2024 - From Brora weighing in at 9.7kg

Common Seal pups 2024

2024 was not an acceptionally good year for the common pups. We had several premature pups, which was a first for us. We are not sure what contributed to this happening but hope it does not happen again in 2025.

Pup No.1 - Sprout 17/05/24 - From Brora weighing in at 6.3kg

Pup No.2 - Brussel 18/05/2024 - From Harrow harbour weighing in at 6.4kg

Pup No.3 - Sketch 02/06/2024 - From North Uist weighing in at 7.9kg

Pup No.4 - Snoopy 03/06/2024 - From Isle of Harris weighing in at 7.9kg

Pup No.5 - Radish 05/06/2024 - From Little Ferry weighing in at 5.1kg

Pup No.6 - Parsnip 14/06/2024 - From Loch Fleet weighing in at 8.1kg

Pup No.7 - Broccoli 15/06/2024 - From Embo weighing in at 8.2kg

Pup No.8 - Sorrel 22/06/2024 - From Isle of Lewis weighing in at 8kg

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