Cumin (passed away)

Rescued: 6th Aug - Newcastle

Cumin is malnourished and has extensive swelling in both her upper and lower jaw.

Update 24th Sept: We are very sad to report that Cumin passed away on Friday 21st September. Since being rescued on the 6th August Cumin had progressed well - the swelling in her face had subsided, she had gained 5kg in weight and learnt to eat fish by herself. Four weeks into her rehabilitation however she developed a slight cough. As coughing can be a sign of lungworm, she was wormed by our vet and placed back onto antibiotics. Despite doing everything we could, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she passed away on Friday morning.

A post mortem investigation carried out that afternoon revealed she had parasitic pneumonia caused by a heavy burden of lungworm. All weaned common seal pups get lungworm from the fish they eat, but the number of worms usually only increases and becomes a problem if the pup is weak or sick. Unfortunately Cumin was just unable to fight off such a severe parasitic infection. Her death has been a huge blow to the team.

Pepper

Rescued: 8th Aug - Murlough

Pepper had been in the Murlough / Newcastle area for three days however it wasn't until the 8th that we were finally able to rescue him as he kept being frightened into the sea by walkers and dogs. He is very underweight for his age.   

Paprika

Rescued: 21st Aug - Greyabbey

Paprika has a sore right fore flipper, which he is very reluctant to move, and cuts on his face and hind flippers.                                                                   

Boldo

Rescued: 26th Sept - Kircubbin

Boldo is 4-5 weeks old and should weigh about 40kg - he weighs just 15.5kg!

Cinnamon

Rescued: 9th Oct - Tyrella

Cinnamon is 3-4 weeks old and is malnourished, dehydrated and exhausted.                                   

Wasabi

Rescued: 17th Oct - Kilroot

Wasabi was rescued from Kilroot Power Station after he became trapped in the water chamber that leads to the stations cooling system. He is very lucky to have survived. He is very malnourished - and very cross!

Ginger

Rescued: 18th Oct - Benone

Ginger was rescued from Benone Strand by NIEA staff at Limavady. He is very underweight and has an injured right eye.  

Marshmallow

Rescued: 19th Oct - Groomsport

Marshmallow was reported to us by several members of the public after they found her clambering around the shore, crying at the top of her voice. When assessed, she was found to be underweight and very hungry. With no sign of her mum offshore, she was brought back to the sanctuary.

Liquorice

Rescued: 24th Oct - Crawfordsburn

Liquorice is at least 4 weeks old, but weighs the same as a new born grey seal pup! 

Peppermint

Rescued: 25th Oct - Co. Donegal

Peppermint, a little orphaned pup, was rescued from Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal. She was cared for at a local vets for a couple of days before being transferred to Exploris on the 25th. She is about 3 weeks old and looks a bit scruffy as she is moulting her white baby fur.  

Cardamom

Rescued: 2nd Nov - Portrush

Cardamom was rescued from the West Strand, Portrush, by NIEA staff at Portrush Coastal Zone. He spent the night at a vets in Coleraine before being transported to Exploris the following day. He is very underweight and dehydrated, but is otherwise in good health.   

Turmeric  

Rescued: 8th Nov - Killough

Turmeric is four weeks old and weighs 15kg - the same weight as a new born grey seal pup!

Saffron

Rescued: 11th Nov - Murlough

Saffron is severely malnourished and has a respiratory infection.

Chili

Rescued: 25th Nov - Bangor

Chili was found by members of the public lying on the shore just along from Pickie Fun Park. He is very underweight for his age.  

Curry

Rescued: 29th Nov - Co. Donegal

Like Peppermint, Curry was rescued from Donegal and cared for at a local veterinary clinic in Letterkenny before being transported to Exploris for the remainder of her rehabilitation. She is very underweight, weighing just 11.75kg, and has a small cut on the left side of her head.

Tarragon

Rescued: 30th Nov - Portrush

Tarragon was rescued by NIEA staff at Portrush Coastal Zone. After spending the night in a veterinary clinic in Coleraine he was transferred to Exploris on the 30th. Tarragon is three weeks old and weighs just 10kg - 5kg below birth weight! He will require several weeks of high fat fish-soup before he is ready for whole fish.

Cayenne

Rescued: 13th Dec - Carrickfergus

Cayenne was first spotted by members of the public in Carrickfergus harbour on the evening on the 11th of December. By the following morning she had disappeared and it wasn't until the afternoon of the 13th that we had another report of her, this time in the marina. She is 3 weeks old, but is very underweight for her age, and has a respiratory infection.   

Oregano

Rescued: 4th Jan - Cushendun

Oregano is about 2 months old and is very malnourished weighing just 15.25kg. Apart from his small size he has no other health problems, and being an older pup he can already eat fish by himself. So all being well, Oregano should be back in the wild in no time!   

Clove

Rescued: 3rd Feb - Portstewart

Clove is 3 months old and has a respiratory infection, stomach and intestinal worms, an infected wound on her lower abdomen - and if all that were not bad enough - is missing the skin from her nose!

Cassia

Rescued: 6th Feb - Portrush

Cassia has a severe respiratory infection which is causing breathing difficulties. She is being treated with rehydration fluids, two types of antibiotics and worming injections.