From East Winch to France - Has Been's journey
The orphan seal is now living life to the full
Last updated 23rd Feb 2021
A seal cared for by the RSPCA during lockdown has been sighted in France
A common seal pup who was cared for by staff at RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre during the pandemic has been spotted happy and healthy in France.
Has Been, as he was named, was spotted in Dunkirk in France earlier this month and looked very happy as photographer Chris Vanhove captured him doing a banana pose with his flippers in the air.
Has Been came into RSPCA care in June last year as an orphan - from Shoeburyness in Essex - weighing just 10kg.
He was cared for by staff at the centre for a number of months to ensure he was strong and fit enough to return to the wild. He was released into the Wash in November weighing a healthy 38.5kg.
Alison Charles, centre manager, said:
"We were so delighted to hear that Has Been had been spotted alive and well - and that he was all the way over in France. We tag our seals before release so they can be monitored, which is how Has Been was identified on the beach.
"He was such a tiny little fella when he came into our care, we had to work hard to get his weight back up - and as with all our orphan seals it is a long road to recovery for them.
"2020 was such an emotionally tough year for everyone and one we will never forget. However during this year the RSPCA still continued to rescue and rehabilitate animals during these difficult times.
"In the past 12 months we have released 75 seals (43 commons and 32 greys). They have all come in for a range of reasons including injuries from dogs and other seals, being disturbed by humans, orphaned, or were found emaciated, dehydrated and sick.
"At the moment we are still caring for 29 pups at our hospital, many of which are getting through three hourly feeds - so as you can imagine we do need a lot of fish for all our patients."
If you would like to support the work of the team at East Winch during the pandemic, they have an Amazon wish list of items.
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's 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. An unhealthy seal pup looks thin (but not bony) and has a visible neck, like a dog. If the mother doesn't return within 24 hours or you think the pup is sick or injured, please call the RSPCA's emergency line on 0300 1234 999. Please never try and return the seal to the water yourself.