After rescued from Welsh beach – Elvis has been released into the wild

It was a little less conversation and a little more action please, for one seal this week!

Elvis – who was rescued back in September from the rocks at Porthcawl seafront – has finally left the building after spending the last few months at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre.

On Monday (February 2) Elvis (who is in fact a she) was released back into the wild alongside five other seals – named as singers and bands – Sleep Token, Wurzel, Arctic Monkey, Benson Boone, Fleetwood Mac – who have all completed a stint of rehabilitation with the RSPCA.

Affectionately named Elvis after the popular Elvis festival held in Porthcawl every September – the seal pup had been rescued by British Divers Marine Life Rescue with support from the local RNLI team. She was injured and malnourished and had also been separated from her mother.

She was taken into the care of the RSPCA and taken to RSPCA West Hatch where the charity’s wildlife rehabilitation team help the seals build up the strength they need to be fit enough to be released.

The seals are initially brought to the centre’s intensive care pens before they are moved into a pool when they gain weight and begin self-feeding.

Each seal pup rehabilitated by the RSPCA West Hatch can remain in care for a number of months and during this time the centre will be spending on average £1,400 a week on fish and veterinary care during seal season – which typically runs from September to March.

Before release, the seals are given identification tags in their hind flippers for ID purposes. The RSPCA often receives good feedback from sightings – and scientific results have revealed that seals that go on from rehabilitation to survive and thrive in the wild.

This group of seals were released from Devon which for a seal is just a short journey from where Elvis was rescued from.

Wildlife Supervisor Ryan Walker said: “It was such a wonderful moment to witness Elvis along with the other seals confidently swim out into the sea.

“Elvis progressed through rehabilitation very well. Upon her admission on 16 September, she weighed 13.6kg and completed a five-day course of antibiotics to treat wounds on her fore flippers and chin, which have since healed.

“She has spent a lot of time in one of our deeper outside pools with another seal named Dido and once she gained enough weight she was fit for release. Unfortunately we had a few storms and bad weather we had to wait to pass – but we’re delighted she is now where she belongs – along with the other seals too!

“As always their success story is down to a real team effort from the initial rescuers to all the vets, staff and volunteers at West Hatch and to the public.”

The other seals who were released alongside Elvis were:

• Benson Boone – who was rescued from Pembrokeshire. He came into RSPCA care very lethargic and skinny.
• Sleep Token – who came into RSPCA care after being rescued from Cornwall. He was underweight and had various wounds.
• Arctic Monkey – was one of the first seals of the season and was rescued from Devon.
• Wurzel – was rescued from Cornwall, and came in underweight and covered in wounds.
• Fleetwood Mac – was rescued from Devon, was also underweight and had wounds.

Their progress and release was captured by RSPCA photographer Emma Jacobs.

She said: “I have been following Elvis’s progress and rehabilitation, so it was absolutely wonderful to witness her release into the wild.

“Our precious wildlife desperately needs our help and support. It’s been amazing to follow this group of seals as they gained strength ready for release.

“So many species of native wildlife are sadly threatened, and many have seen reductions in numbers, so it’s important for all of us to do everything we can to support wildlife to make sure every kind thrives in its natural environment.”

The RSPCA works in partnership with a number of other organisations to come to the aid of seals.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ellie West added: “We’d like to thank the RNLI and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue for bringing Elvis to safety. Partnership working is so important in helping us to reach seals and we work closely with many organisations.”

The animal welfare charity advises that if members of the public spot a seal on a beach that they observe them from a distance and do not approach them. Seals are wild animals and have a nasty bite if they feel threatened. It is also advised people keep dogs on leads on beaches that have seal colonies too.

“It’s not unusual to see a seal pup by itself, as their mothers will leave the pups alone very early on in life, feeding in the sea then returning to feed them.” said Ellie. “If you find a seal pup that looks fit and healthy and shows no signs of distress, monitor it first from a safe distance for 24 hours. 

“However, if the mother doesn’t return after 24 hours or the pup appears distressed, injured or unwell, or is on a busy public beach, our emergency line can be reached on 0300 1234 999. Please always stay at a safe distance and keep dogs well away – seals can have a very nasty bite if threatened.”

Lifeboat crew battle six-metre seas after lone sailor loses engine, sail and takes on water west of Skokholm

ANGLE RNLI lifeboat volunteers carried out a dramatic rescue after responding to a broken Pan Pan call from a 28ft yacht in severe conditions, with winds gusting to 42 knots and waves reaching up to six metres.

At 10:56am on Tuesday (Feb 3), the crew were already afloat on a navigation pass-out exercise in Dale Roads when they overheard the distress transmission from a yacht west of Skokholm Island. Moments later, HM Coastguard tasked the lifeboat to respond while further information was gathered.

While making best speed to the scene, the crew were told the yacht, carrying one person, had suffered engine failure, blown out its sail and was taking on water from an unknown source.

The casualty vessel was located around three miles west of the island. After assessing the situation, the crew decided conditions were too dangerous to place a lifeboat volunteer aboard, and the safest option was to establish a tow.

With a south-easterly gale and a very rough sea state, the tow was rigged and the yacht began a slow passage towards Milford Haven.

However, shortly after the tow commenced, a large wave threw the skipper overboard. Although tethered to the yacht by his safety harness, he was dragged alongside the vessel in the heavy swell.

The lifeboat crew immediately released the tow and began recovery operations. With the towline fouling access on one side and the casualty trapped on the other, a crew member was eventually placed aboard the yacht over its bow. The skipper’s harness was cut, allowing him to drift clear, before he was safely recovered from the water by the lifeboat.

With the priority now the sailor’s welfare, and the risks of re-establishing the tow judged too great, the crew member was brought back aboard and the lifeboat returned to harbour.

On arrival, volunteers from the Dale Coastguard Rescue Team assisted with casualty care and gathered the necessary details.

The lifeboat was stood down and made ready for further service by 2:30pm.

The station also thanked the The Lord Nelson Hotel for accommodating the sailor at short notice.

The rescue has drawn heartfelt thanks for the volunteer lifeboat crew, whose quick actions brought the man safely back to shore. The gesture from the Lord Nelson Hotel, offering shelter for the night, also reflects the community spirit that so often accompanies the work of Pembrokeshire’s RNLI teams.

A spokesperson for Angle RNLI said the incident highlighted both the speed at which conditions can deteriorate at sea and the importance of safety equipment such as harnesses and tethers.

Charity warns one in three over-50s struggling with costs, healthcare delays and digital exclusion

AGE CYMRU has launched a manifesto calling on political parties to tackle what it describes as “the crisis people don’t see” facing older people across Wales ahead of the Senedd elections in May.

The national charity for older people says rising living costs, pressure on NHS and care services, poor transport links and digital exclusion are leaving many pensioners struggling day-to-day and feeling increasingly isolated.

By 2030, more than 1.3 million people in Wales will be aged over fifty – around forty per cent of the population.

But despite making up a growing share of the country, the charity says too many older people are being “pushed to the margins”.

Age Cymru’s annual survey found nearly half (46%) of older people struggled with the cost of living in the past year, with sixty-two per cent cutting back on essentials such as heating and food.

Access to healthcare is also deteriorating. Half of respondents said they had difficulty securing GP appointments, with waits of four weeks or more now common. More than half of those seeking social care described the process as difficult or very difficult.

Digital exclusion is another growing concern. Thirty-one per cent of people aged over seventy-five in Wales have no internet access at home – roughly double the UK average – meaning many cannot easily access services that have moved online.

Manifesto demands

The charity is calling on the next Welsh Government to deliver seven key changes:

• Easier access to health services
• Timely, quality social care
• Action on pensioner poverty
• Reliable public transport
• Stronger community connections and Equality Act compliance
• Offline access to services for those without digital skills
• Support to keep homes warm

Real lives affected

For Terry Lemington, 72, from South Wales, the problems are personal.

While caring for his late wife, he said he was unaware of support he could have received until just ten weeks before she died.

“It wasn’t until ten weeks before my wife passed away that I was told I could have had additional support to help me care for her,” he said.

“That included a stairlift, which in the end was due to be fitted on the day she passed away. I just wasn’t aware of the support that was available.”

Terry, who does not drive, says limited bus services leave him cut off.

“There are hourly buses to larger towns and a small village bus, but they finish at mid-day on Saturday and there is nothing on Sunday. I’m completely cut off,” he added.

“Right now it feels like older people are pushed to the margins. But we still have so much to contribute.”

Economic impact

Victoria Lloyd, Chief Executive of Age Cymru, said the issue was not only moral but economic.

“These stories are sadly all too common,” she said.

“Older people contribute around £2 billion a year to the Welsh economy, whether through paid work, childcare for families or volunteering.

“Investing in the health and wellbeing of older people is an investment in Wales as a whole.”

She added that while the Welsh Government’s Age Friendly Wales strategy had made progress, more decisive action was needed.

“We’re calling on all parties seeking votes this year to read our manifesto and ensure older people are properly considered in their policies and promises.”