Seal pup found on city's beach

Mar 7 2013

A rare black seal pup has been found on a city shoreline.

It was discovered weak and underweight on Aberdeen beach last month by a member of the public.

The mammal, named Liquorice, is a grey seal although his coat is jet black, said to be unusual for a seal of his kind.

The SSPCA is rehabilitating the six-week-old pup at its National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross near Alloa.

Centre manager Colin Seddon said: "Liquorice weighed only 14kg when he was rescued and we'd expect a pup of his size to be at least 20kg or more.

"It's common in grey seals for the male to be darker than the female but Liquorice's coat is jet black which is very unusual. This is the first pup of this colour to come into our care for many years.

"Thankfully, Liquorice is doing really well and feeding himself without any trouble. His weight is increasing steadily and he's now a much healthier 19kg.

"All going well, we hope to release him back in to the water within the next month."

Black-coloured grey seals seem to be sighted more in the north of Scotland, appearing around Shetland, but not in large numbers, Mr Seddon said.