Dumbledore the seal dies from pneumonia
A seal found in a farmer’s field 20 miles from the sea dies from pneumonia, a month after being rescued and taken to a wildlife centre.
The young adult grey seal, named Dumbledore, was admitted to RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre for specialist treatment after being found 20 miles inland near St Helens.
The animal is thought to have travelled up the River Mersey and made its way into a brook near the field in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, on 22 December.
In a statement, the RSCPA confirmed the seal died on Saturday after 26 days of care.
It added: “Sadly, despite all the highly-skilled care and attention he received from staff at RSPCA East Winch, Dumbledore the seal has died.
Listless
“Staff at the centre worked tirelessly to make sure Dumbledore was comfortable and to treat him for his ailments. He was found to be suffering from pneumonia and was listless with no appetite.
“While X rays showed he had no trauma from injuries and his severe pneumonia was being treated with antibiotic injections every day, his appetite never fully returned.
“The RSPCA is extremely proud of all its staff that worked so hard to care for Dumbledore and tried to help him on the road to recovery. Sadly wildlife rehabitation is particularly challenging and, of all the species the wildlife centres take in, seals are one of the more difficult to rehabilitate.”
The centre has around 40 sick seals on site, all of which have been given names related to the Harry Potter books.
