A grey seal pup saved by rescuers in 2020 has made a remarkable return to North Wales waters — this time as a new mumKale and her pup, Amethyst (Image: Adge Lane )

An orphaned seal pup rescued from a North Wales beach more than five years ago is now thriving in local waters – and raising a pup of her own.

Staff at the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, near Nantwich, spent three months caring for Kale, a young grey seal pup brought in by British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in 2020. She had been found underweight and alone, but quickly began to recover under the centre’s specialist care.

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Kale was tube, then hand-fed fish until she could feed independently. Once she gained enough weight, she was moved to the centre’s outdoor pools before being transferred to the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay — chosen for its deep pools ideal for preparing seal pups for life back in the sea. She was eventually released into the coastal waters off North Wales.

Kale the seal(Image: Adge Lane )

Last year, volunteers from a Welsh seal monitoring group reported a sighting of Kale in the same area. And now, her remarkable progress has been captured by wildlife photographer Adge Lane, whose images show Kale with her new pup — named Amethyst — in one of the region’s well-known seal hotspots.

Lee Stewart, manager of the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, said: “This is such an uplifting story. To see Kale doing so well back in the wild — and now caring for her own pup — is incredibly rewarding. When she came into our care she was in poor condition, but thanks to our dedicated team and the support of Welsh Mountain Zoo, she made a fantastic recovery.”

He added that sightings like this are vital for the charity’s work.

Kale’s pup called Amethyst (Image: Adge Lane )

“Our seal pups are tagged so we can monitor them after release. Knowing they’re thriving in the wild reinforces that our rehabilitation methods are working. To have such beautiful images of Kale and Amethyst in North Wales is really special — it reminds us why our rescue work matters.”

Amethyst’s name follows Stapeley Grange tradition, where seasonal or topical themes are used for naming the pups.

Stapeley Grange is one of around a dozen centres in the UK equipped to care for seals, though not all facilities can keep pups through to release. Other long-term centres include the RSPCA’s East Winch (Norfolk), Mallydams Wood (East Sussex) and West Hatch (Somerset). With the UK’s growing seal population, rescue centres are under increasing pressure as more underweight or injured pups need help.

However, the RSPCA is urging the public to be cautious before intervening. A lone seal pup on a beach is not always abandoned — mothers often leave their pups for long periods. Members of the public are advised to observe from a distance of at least 100 metres, keep dogs on leads, and monitor the pup for 24 hours before seeking help, unless the animal is clearly injured.

Anyone worried about a seal can find guidance on the RSPCA website, or contact the RSPCA or BDMLR for expert advice.

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