A cute seal pup found alone and exhausted on a beach has been returned to the sea after four months of rehabilitation.
Cranberry was rescued by the RSPCA at the end of July after the animal welfare charity had been contacted by a concerned member of the public who had found the pup on Coatham Sands in Redcar.
Lethargic and weighing just 11 kg (24.2 pounds), and with no sign of his parents for 24 hours, he was carried from the beach in a special bag by RSPCA inspector Clare Wilson and taken to Medivet in Darlington.
An examination found he was suffering from seal mouth rot, an infection that causes severe abscesses and ulcers around the mouth and lesions which strip away the tissue.
After receiving initial treatment at the vet, he was transferred by the charity to Tynemouth Aquarium, where volunteers from its seal hospital have been caring for him ever since.
On Sunday (November 12) Cranberry, who now weighs 36 kg (79.3 pounds), was released back into the sea next to St Mary’s Lighthouse at Whitley Bay, along with another rehabilitated seal also named with a fruit theme - Raspberry.
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Inspector Wilson was joined by staff from Tynemouth Aquarium, volunteers from the hospital and the vet who had initially treated him, to watch him go.
She said: "It was a wonderful feeling finally seeing Cranberry return to the water.
“When I first collected him from the beach he was in a very poor state, with lots of abscesses on his mouth which were very sore and swollen.
"It’s been a long road to recovery for him but lots of people have pulled together to make it happen - from the member of the public who first reported him to us, to the fantastic care he’s received for many weeks at Tynemouth Aquarium and seal hospital, as well as several vets practices along the way.
“Seal rescue is labour intensive, but being able to successfully rehabilitate these beautiful creatures and return them back into the wild where they belong is so rewarding. It’s been a team effort and we were all over the moon at seeing him swim free again.”
Cranberry has been released with a flipper tag on, which will enable him to be identified if he’s spotted again in the future.
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The RSPCA warns that it’s important that the public never approach seals and keep any dogs well away and on a lead, as these are wild animals and can have a nasty bite.
It is not unusual for seal pups to be left alone for short periods of time so if you spot a youngster who looks fit and healthy, it is best to monitor them from a safe distance for 24 hours to ensure a parent returns.
It is very normal for seals to come out onto beaches to rest, and they will go back into the sea when they are ready. It’s very important to keep your distance - do not try and move the animal back into the water yourself.
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