Stranded seal pup saved from Wexford stream in ‘epic’ three-day rescue

A stranded seal pup was successfully rescued from a stream in Wexford after being lost for three days.

The grey seal was first spotted on a road beside a stream near Murntown in County Wexford last Saturday. When volunteers from animal group Seal Rescue Ireland approached the seal, he jumped back in the stream and stayed there for a day. The group said they could tell the pup was "distressed and aggravated."

"After great effort the light was fading, and there was no way of getting him out of the corner he was hiding in (...) so a decision was made to leave him alone until the next morning."

The next day, the seal was spotted in the stream again but it was too dark to attempt a rescue. So on Monday, volunteers located the seal "bouncing" through a garden. They approached him and luckily, he was in great health.

"Finally he was cornered in the garden and captured! He was checked over for injuries and was thankfully in great shape. "He was a total of 14 km away from the ocean!"

The seal was then taken to Kilmore Quay beach where he was released into the water "with great delight." Seal Rescue Ireland say that he swam about 500m out to sea, took a look around, and then stayed in the area for a bit longer. The group have taken to Facebook to thank all involved in the rescue mission and for delivering the lost seal back home in one piece. Images via Seal Rescue Ireland.