A seal pup has been rescued from a field in Lancashire after it decided to wander away from a nearby river.
The grey seal, weighing a healthy 40kg, was spotted on farmland about a kilometre away from the River Ribble near the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale, Preston.
It seems the seal had wandered across three farmers fields before being spotted by a member of the public – who alerted the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the RSPCA as well as the a nearby vets practice.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Kelly Nix, was sent to the scene, and assisted BDMLR in safely containing the seal in a cage.
She then sought advice from the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire.
Ms Nix said: “The seal had come from the river – which is 18 miles inland from the coast – but this is not unusual and seals are spotted in our waterways and will happily find their own way back to the sea.
“I spoke to specialists at our centre who were concerned that about putting him back in the river due to the amount of dog walkers in the area as their pets could spook the seal causing him to travel further inland
“So we took the seal, who looked really healthy, to the RNLI base in Fleetwood and we released him into the sea there.
“The seal was a bit reluctant to go in the water at first so we had to gently encourage him.
“Then off he went into the sea – it was so heartwarming to see.
“I’m not sure why he came so far inland but seals have been spotted in the river here before.
“It seems he got out for a wander and must have lost his way, so it was a good job his predicament was spotted.”
The RSPCA advises members of the public to observe seals from a distance and not approach them.
Seals are wild animals and have a nasty bite, but it is not uncommon to see them in rivers. It is also advised keep dogs on leads in areas that have seal colonies.
If you see a seal you think may be sick or injured, you should call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
There is also more information on the RSPCA website regarding what to do if you see a seal or pup on the beach alone.
