Posted online: Dec 1st, 2011

Two seal pups rescued at different times in Donegal, and who developed a special bond at the Irish Seal Sanctuary in Dingle, will be released into the wild again together at Rathmullan beach this Saturday at 3.00 pm.
Hilary, a volunteer from the Irish Seal Sanctuary, calls it a “love story” that started at the sanctuary.
Even though they were lifted at different times and are two different species, Hilary says, “the two just gelled – that’s my take on it.”
Hilary adds that the release will be a great day for kids.
“It’s a great opportunity to see the seals up close.”
Robbie, a common seal, was less than three weeks old and weighed only 10 kilograms when he was found all alone on the shore walk in Ramelton on July 6th. A woman called Kathleen found him on the road alone. She then called Hilary.
Hilary says the high tides must have separated him from his mother. “He must have been separated a while as he was very thin.”
He was rescued and looked after by Heidi Ludwig Kearns and team in Ramelton for a few days.
Hilary says the team “fell in love with Robbie at the centre. He was a dote to work with.”
After he was brought to the Irish Seal Sanctuary in Dingle where he grew to a healthy 32 kilos. It took him a long time to learn how to eat on his own but once he got it, he put on all the weight he needed.
Sheeba, a grey seal, was younger again – only five or six days old and weighing 16 kilos, when she was found in Rosbeg, with her full lanugo coat intact on September 13th. She was abandoned or orphaned with a few superficial wounds on her face. She learned to eat quickly and is now a whopping 42 kilos.
The Irish Seal Sanctuary is a totally voluntary organisation and Hilary says the two pups would have died if it weren’t for the organisation.
“They were in pretty bad shape when they came to the sanctuary. We gave them a second chance.