23/09/2025
🎉🦭Time to seal-abrate! 🦭🎉
Some of you may not know, that based at our Morpeth Whorral Bank hospital is the BDMLR NEST unit- the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, North East Seal Triage unit 🦭🛟 This unit provides a safe and secure environment for the assessment and triage of up to three seal pups at any one time, before being sent for rehabilitation and ultimately re-release. We are very proud to help the BDMLR with their commitment to the welfare of marine mammals in the North East. Today we would like to shine the spotlight on a recent success story we were honoured to be a part of. 🦭💙
~ Popeye's story ~
Meet Popeye, the common seal who was recently rescued by the BDMLR- and won the hearts of all the staff involved in his care! 🥰
Originally found on Crimdon beach along the Durham coast, Popeye was estimated to only be around 7-10 days old, under 9kg in weight and very thin and dehydrated. After receiving emergency first aid he was transferred to Tynemouth Seal Hospital 🚑 for ongoing stabilisation and care where he began to improve, his weight more than doubling to 18.75kg. During this time however it was noticed Popeye had quite a severe eye infection, and although he received significant supportive treatment and medication to try and control the infection, the eye soon ruptured. It was decided that the best course of action, for Popeye's welfare and comfort, was surgery to remove it.
It was at this point Robson and Prescott Vets were asked to help! 👨⚕️👩⚕️🐾
On the evening of August 26th, Popeye was transferred to the BDMLR NEST unit with his surgical procedure scheduled for the following day- left eye enucleation (removal of the eye). The procedure was complex and required lots of pre-operative planning among our vets, nurses and the BDMLR medics, due to the high-risk nature of both the anaesthesia required and the surgery itself. Popeye was deemed strong enough to go ahead with surgery, so ahead we went. Popeye was taken inside our hospital into theatre and our veterinary team got to work, while everyone tentatively awaited updates.🤞
Much to the huge relief of everyone involved, surgery was a complete success! 🎉Once our vets and nurses were happy with how Popeye was recovering, he was moved back into a comfortable, clean pen within the NEST unit for ongoing monitoring and recovery (see the video in the comments!🚑). The photos below show the incredible veterinary team involved- Sztanko, Jack, Melanie and Bev, as well as some pictures of Popeye recovering after surgery.📸
Fast forward to now- Popeye has been receiving ongoing wound management, pain relief and lots of TLC from both ourselves, the BDMLR medics and volunteers, and is thriving! 🌟 He is now in the early stages of free feeding and hopefully can return to the Tynemouth Seal Hospital in the coming weeks to continue his rehabilitation. (Check out the video in the comments to see Popeye enjoying some sunshine and UV rays! 🌞) Once his eye wound has fully healed, he can begin supervised swims gradually increasing in length, with the aim for full release back into the wild when he reaches his target weight of 30-35kg. 🌊
And everyone's hard work- with Popeye, at least- will then be complete! ✅
It truly is success stories like Popeye's that makes all our hard work and dedication worthwhile. Last year alone the BDMLR had 3851 call-outs for seals alone, so their job is never done. Robson and Prescott will continue to support the BDMLR in their constant endeavour to improve marine life welfare. 🛟🦭🦈🐬 If you would like to find out more about the BDMLR and ways you can help support them, please go to https://bdmlr.org.uk/🛟
