Rescue seals set to be released on Salthill Beach

Two seals who were found at ‘death’s door’ on Galway beaches have been nursed back to health.

Lilo and Tinkerbell are two common seals who were found in poor health in Salthill and Kinvara respectively.

They have been successfully rehabilitated by Seal Rescue Ireland and will be released back into Galway Bay this weekend – the public are invited to the farewell party!

When Lilo was found, she was abandoned and was very sick with a gastric infection.

Tinkerbell was very small and skinny when she was found, weighing only 6.5 kilos, less than half the normal weight for a seal pup. Both seals were delivered to a rescue centre in Courtown in Wexford by members of Seal Rescue Ireland’s rescue network based around the country.

“Their stay with us has been made possible by the generous donations given to us by the public through either regular donations to us as members, or by adopting them,” said Ivan Kelly, manager at Seal Rescue Ireland.

Now that they have successfully passed their rehabilitation, they are due to be released at Salthill beach at 2pm this Saturday.

“We hope to see a big crowd there for this momentous occasion, particularly as this will be the only common seal release scheduled for Galway this year,” said Mr Kelly.

For more, see this week’s Galway City Tribune