Seal pup gets swimming lesson

Zoo keepers at Living Coasts in Torquay are teaching a tiny seal pup how to swim.

She had to be hand reared because her mother Grace was unable to produce milk. Now, keeper Libor Mach has taken to the water to give her swimming lessons.

But how do you teach a seal pup to swim? Living Coasts’ Clare Rugg explained: “In the wild the mother would simply take them into the water and keep them afloat until they got the hang of it. So we have to do pretty much the same!

“She has a natural instinct but needs Libor, her surrogate mother, for confidence. She can’t get in or out of the water by herself yet, she does doggy paddle and blows bubbles and every so often she gets a little nervous and heads back to the shore!”

Living Coasts, a registered charity, is auctioning the right to name the pup on eBay to raise money for conservation. You can bid by going to http://bit.ly/seal-pup. Bidding closes on 26th July.

Meanwhile, Sainsburys in Paignton are donating 300ml of double cream every day to help feed her. South American fur seal Grace gave birth early on the morning of Tuesday 3rd June. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring 0844 474 3366.