Orphaned seal pup rescued from North East beach

An orphaned grey seal pup found on a beach in the North East is being hand fed and kept warm at a rescue centre after being abandoned by her mother.

Rogue the three-week-old seal pup was found on the beach at Fraserburgh after being abandoned by her mother

The pup, now called Rogue, was found on the shore at Fraserburgh and is believed to be just three weeks old.

Still with her white fluffy coat, she was discovered by volunteers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

She and three other pups are now in the care of the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre near Alloa.

Rogue is now being hand fed fish soup at the Scottish SPCA's resuce centre near Alloa

Centre manager Colin Seddon said: “Rogue is our first grey seal pup of the season, which will last until March or April next year.

“She is being tube-fed fish soup at the moment and that will continue for the next few weeks until she’s old and strong enough to feed herself.”

Mr Seddon said the centre took in 95 grey seals during pupping season.

He added: “We now have four seal pups in our care, including Rogue, and we’ve no doubt they’ll be joined by many more in the coming weeks and months.”

Rogue is being kept warm at the centre, which sees a large number of abandoned pups during the season.

The Scottish SPCA urged the public to contact its animal helpline if they see a distressed seal pup lying on the shore this winter.

He said people should not approach the pups in case they scare off the mothers.

Mr Seddon added: “Anyone concerned about a seal pup, including any who appear injured, are found on public beaches or are spotted in unusual places such as non-breeding areas, should give us a call before

approaching them.

“We are often contacted about seal pups who are healthy but have been abandoned by their mothers because someone has disturbed them.”

Anyone concerned about a seal or any other wild animal should contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.