More
than 100 orphaned baby seals were washed up on the Norfolk coast during last week’s tidal
surge.

The
pups, many younger than three weeks old, have been taken to the East Winch Wildlife
Centre, near King’s Lynn.

They
are expected to need care for up to five months after being separated from their colonies
at the height of the pupping season, meaning most should still be dependent on
their mother’s milk.

Staff and volunteers have now begun the mammoth task of
rehabilitating the grey seal pups, which were rescued by RSPCA inspectors, with
the aim of returning them to the wild. 

Alison Charles, manager of the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife
Centre, said: ‘We have never had a seal rescue project on a scale as big as
this before.

‘If it wasn’t for us, these seal pups would starve to death. But we
really need the public’s help because without their donations we simply couldn’t do what
we do

‘This couldn’t have happened at a worse time for the seals.
We are at the height of the grey seal pupping season which means most of these
poor seals should still be dependent on their mother’s milk.’

Emergency seal appeal

The RSPCA has launched an ’emergency seal appeal’ to help cover the costs of caring for the seals as it costs £22 a week to feed
each one.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help the RSPCA with the seals is asked to text SEAL01 followed by how much you
would like to donate to 70070
(eg, SEAL01 £3).

Texts cost your chosen amount plus one standard network rate
message.

Or make a donation online at www.rspca.org.uk