A seal sanctuary in Skegness facing increased costs as number of pups being rescued rises
Spending around £2,000 per pup, the centre already helps around 70 seals each year
The number of seals being rescued on the Lincolnshire coast is increasing, forcing costs to go up for seal sanctuary's like Natureland in Skegness.
Currently, the centre is spending around £140,000 pounds a year to look after its 70 seals, but with more being born each year it's likely that cost will rise again.
Mathew Yeadon is one of the Directors, and says it's a difficult time:
"It's vital, really, up and down the country, there are other rescue centres, but all of them are at capacity most of the time, as we are really. With baby seals are being born more and more frequently, population growth is a big thing out there with seals and it is putting strain on us. So, if we're all here doing our part, then we can just about keep on top of all the babies that need rescuing.
"For us, we have between 60 and 70 and it's been going up and up as the populations have grown. We started off with five, I think in our first year, and since then it's slowly crept up into the 70s nearly. So we're touching on that.
"With current climates of everything going on, it's keeping us busy. It's the first kind of proper post COVID year if you like. We were still seeing the effects last year, and now we're not, but obviously the cost of living on the other hand, has hit us and hit everybody else around the UK as well.
"So this year, is maybe a little bit down on what we would hope for. But it's kind of what we were expecting and August has started pretty strong really. So we're hoping for things to be good this month."
He added that prices have risen in every aspect:
"It's pretty much entirely donations and entry fees that we work off, so obviously it's a paid attraction and all that money goes towards the care of the animals and the upkeep and paying the staff as well.
"Each seal costs us over £2000 to rehabilitate, so doing 70 a year obviously adds up pretty quick. So every penny counts, really.
"Energy costs are a big concern. We've been very lucky that we locked into a contract just before COVID hit and it's coming up in 2025 to end. So we're hoping we can ride it out with what we've got.
"But even then it's expensive... we've got a reptile house and aquarium and the floral palace, which all need permanent heating throughout the year and use thousands of pounds per month in heating. On top of that, just the general rise in every cost you can think of really animal food, the cafe food, the gift shop and even fuel costs for the rescue van. Every aspect is going up."
Skegness Natureland, are known worldwide for rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned and injured seal pups along the Lincolnshire coast.
The two main pupping seasons (Summer months for Harbour Seals, Winter months for Grey Seals) are the busiest times for rescuing baby seals.
Each year, Natureland rescued between 60 and 70 pups from the Lincolnshire coastline, due to them being separated from their mothers before being successfully weaned, or because they have become unwell or injured. These pups are brought back to Natureland, where they are admitted to our Seal Hospital and cared for by the team.
Visitors are able to see every step in their rehabilitation process, and hear about our rescue work when feeding the seal pups in the rearing pool.
There is also a tropical butterfly exhibit, along with our penguins, meerkats, alpacas and more.