Rare seal found in Scotland released back to wild after recovering from injuries

A rare ringed seal found injured in Aberdeen has been released into the wild again after being nursed back to health.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) worked to heal Hispi before releasing him back to the waters off Shetland.

Ringed seals have only been sighted in the UK up to 30 times in the last century and are more commonly found in Arctic waters.

Hispi was found lethargic and with multiple injuries at Cove Bay harbour in August.

He was between six and eight weeks old when he was spotted in the Scottish waters before being taken to the charity’s national wildlife rescue centre.

Hipsi was flown to Shetland, the most northern Scottish island, in hopes he would be able to make his way home from there.

Sarah Beattie, the assistant manager of the rescue centre, travelled north with Hispi.

‘We’re delighted to be able to release Hispi back in to the wild where he belongs,’ she said.

‘We’re not sure how Hispi ended up in Aberdeen or what caused him to be separated from his mother.

‘Although he was only six to eight weeks old when he came in to our care, he recovered well from his injuries and quickly began putting on weight.

‘Our team arranged for him to be flown to Shetland so that he could be released from the most northerly point in Scotland and have the best possible chance of making it back home where he belongs.’

She added: ‘The team at the centre have done a fantastic job rehabilitating him and preparing him for life in the wild.

‘We couldn’t be happier with how the release went. He didn’t hang about for very long and it was great to see him back in his natural habitat and starting his journey home.

‘It’s always an amazing feeling seeing an animal we cared for be released successfully back in to the wild, but it’s even more special when it’s a rare species like this.’

Before his release on Saturday, Hispi spent the night at the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary on the island.