A dramatic animal rescue operation on a remote Scottish island required heavy machinery to save a terrified grey seal pup trapped in a seemingly impossible position.
Heavy Machinery for a Delicate Operation
The incident unfolded on Saturday at Rapness Pier on Westray, Orkney, where the young seal became tightly wedged deep within the rock armour protecting the ferry terminal. Rescuers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) faced a significant challenge: the animal was inaccessible, and its head – the "bitey end" – was facing upwards, making a safe approach impossible.
A local BDMLR spokesman explained the dilemma: "On arrival, the seal was found wedged tightly between large boulders, deep in the armour and only just within reach. With the bitey end facing upwards, it wasn’t possible to safely restrain the seal to begin work."
Teamwork and Ingenuity Free the Pup
The solution was both unconventional and essential. The team hatched a plan to remove one of the massive surrounding boulders using machinery. Staff from the salmon aquaculture company Cooke Scotland provided crucial assistance, lending both a team member and a 'loadall' JCB to the effort.
"A massive thank you to Cooke Scotland for lending us both a team member and a loadall, we genuinely couldn’t have done this without you," the BDMLR spokesman said.
Once the boulder was shifted, medics could safely restrain the seal, place it into a makeshift stretcher, and carefully transport it down to the shore. The seal was then successfully released back into the sea, apparently none the worse for its frightening experience.
Second Orkney Rescue Highlights Busy Week
In a separate incident highlighting a busy period for rescuers, another grey seal pup required assistance after getting stuck on the nearby island of Sanday, Orkney. BDMLR operations director Julia Cable described it as a "test of muscle power" after the large seal was found wedged beneath rock armour at another ferry terminal with no way out.
"After several hours of digging and working around the rock, with some ingenuity the team managed to free him — even breaking a shovel along the way," Cable stated. Following a health check, the "feisty, plump pup" was also released back into the wild and seen joining other seals.
Cable praised the efforts, summarising the core ingredients for success: "Teamwork, persistence, and a great outcome." The coordinated rescue on Westray, involving BDMLR, Cooke Scotland, and safety cover from HM Coastguard, stands as a powerful testament to that very formula.
