A JUVENILE male seal is heading to a sanctuary this afternoon following a four-hour rescue operation from a field in Winwick.

Experts believe the seal may have arrived at the site via Sankey Brook.

A tweet from Cheshire Police at 10.30am this morning, Monday, said the seal had been found in a 'distressed' state. 

But it has now been safely transported to a seal sanctuary before he will be released to a seal colony in Wirral.

 

 

Have you seen the Winwick seal?

Officers in both Cheshire amd Merseyside as well as firefighters and the RSPCA were involved in the rescue near Red Bank Farm between Winwick and Newton, off the A49.

Police said it was spotted about 9.30am by a dog walker.

Owner of the farm Angela Watkinson said she got a call from the police asking if they owned any exotic pets.

She added: "I laughed and said Pygmy goats, sheep and cattle was exotic as it got.

"But then I got a shock when I came out to find an actual seal in the garden!

"You can see where he has come up from the brook but we have got no idea which direction he has come from."

Rachel Fraser, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said she was really surprised to see a seal 20 miles inland.

She added: "We think he has come from the Mersey up through Sankey via the brook.

"We're waiting for a crate and a trailer to take him back to the sea."

Although he seemed quite calm throughout the ordeal, experts warned he would be quite distressed.

Watching passers by have been warned not to approach the animal as they can be aggressive. 

 

 

A spokesman said: "Police have contained the seal and representatives from the British Diver Marine Life Rescue Service are making their way to the scene.

"Seals are powerful animals and potentially dangerous. Police are advising the public to stay away from the area."

After nearly four hours, the seal was finally corraled into a horse box with owner of the field Gary Watkinson joining forces with firefighters and officers. 

After being checked over by RSPCA staff, he was signed, sealed and delivered to RSPCA's wildlife hospital in Stapley Grange, Nantwich, for assessment before he will be released to a seal colony in Wirral. 

A spokesman added the seal was 'exhausted' but they were pleased with the successful rescue operation.

RSPCA inspector John Brooks who attended the incident added: “This is the first time I have ever come across a seal in a field.

“Nobody knows how the seal got there. There is a brook nearby but that is only about three feet deep.  If he followed the rivers and tributaries he could’ve travelled as far as 20 miles from the sea.

“He was a very large adult male and was quite distressed when we were there. We had to use a number of metal bar gates and pig boards to herd him on to waiting transport.

“Because he appeared to have an injury to his head and discharge from his nose he was then transported to RSPCA Stapeley Grange for further care and to be checked over by vets.”

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