Four rescued grey seal pups recently took a swim in deep water for the first time—and they couldn’t contain their happiness.
According to a Facebook post by the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, the orphaned pups were all saved from different parts of the UK’s east coast. When they arrived at the hospital, they were penned in an enclosure with a shallow pool.
The hospital currently has 14 rescued seal pups, reports the BBC, which means space is limited. So to gain access to the facility’s deep pool, the animals not only have to wait their turn, but they also need to be cleared of diseases and be able to feed themselves.
“There’s a bit of a queue,” the hospital’s founder, Sue Schwar, told the publication.
When the four pups turned six months old, staff members gave them the all-clear. So they led them to the deep water pool, and the pups’ reactions to the experience were priceless.
“Watching grey seal pups experience deeper water for the first time is a sight that will never get old,” reads the Facebook post. “These four pups have just moved into our large outdoor pool, and their joy was completely infectious!”
“They spent hours racing about and playing before settling down, leaving all of us with a huge smile,” it continues. “Hopefully, it won’t be long before these guys can return to the wild at last.”
Sue told BBC that the rescued seal pups will stay in the deep water pool for “a couple of weeks.” While they’re in there, they will build strength and learn how to survive in the ocean. Once they are old enough and strong enough, they’ll return to the wild.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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