We adopted a seal called “Black Serpent Star” to celebrate Christmas this year!
Here is some key information:
Name: Black Serpent Star.
Age upon Rescue: 4-6 weeks old.
Rescued: 28th September 2024, at Kilcoole beach, Co. Wicklow.
Current Location: Courtown Co. Wexford.
Black Serpent Star’s story:
Black Serpent Star was found on a busy beach in Co. Wicklow. After a period of monitoring, it was determined that he was 4-6 weeks old. He was exhausted and looked very underweight for a pup his age. After a day of monitoring, it was determined that he needed to be rescued and he was lifted and transported to a rehabilitation centre in Courtown, Co. Wexford, where an experienced team were ready to get to work.
During his intake, Black Serpent Star was emaciated and weighed just 12kg. His Umbilicous area was still open and pink had not healed over properly. Serpent Star was given wound care and lots of nutrient-rich fish soup to help keep him hydrated and gain the critical weight he needs to recover.
What does “wildlife rehabilitation” consist of?
Wildlife rehabilitation comes in many forms. In this case, it was critical to rehabilitate Black Serpent Star in a centre dedicated to his needs. While Seal Rescue Ireland does its best to save every seal, there is always the possibility of unforeseen health issues, internal damage or defects, and setbacks, therefore full recovery and survival is never a guarantee. The rehab centre contains an ICU, or intensive care unit, allowing the seals to be closely monitored, in a calming and neutral environment. ICU has its own heat lamp as many of the seals are brought in underweight and therefore require heat to survive and thrive.
The seals are tube fed. When Black Serpent Star arrived, he was fed an electrolyte solution to replenish him. The service does this with every seal.
A diet rich in fish soup helps them gain weight and grow to their recommended size. If a pup, or young seal, comes in with cuts and gashes, like our seal, they are given a chemical bath to bathe and clean the wounds to prevent infection. Black Serpent Star loves his bath!
So where is Black Serpent Star now? He has been moved out of the ICU and into a kennel! Each kennel has a bathtub and heatmap! The heatmap operates at 38 degrees Celsius, which is the optimal temperature for seals of this size and age. The seals are often put in baths full of salty water to replicate the natural environment. They attend “Fish School”, to rehabilitate them in order to get back to the wild. School helps them wean off fish soup and move towards solid fish, a staple of their diet in the wild.
Answering Important Questions:
Why was he named Black Serpent Star? The Black Serpent Star (Ophiocomina nigra) is a captivating marine species known for its long, slender arms and unique movement. Unlike traditional starfish, Serpent Stars possess flexible, snake-like limbs that allow them to navigate their environment with ease. Their ability to hide among rocks and coral makes them a very interesting species. This ability reminded the centre of the seal we adopted and that’s where he got his name!
What happens when seals graduate from fish school? Seals like Black Serpent Star, who will eventually complete fish school, move to on-site pools to mimic the natural environment. This occurs after the seals are strong enough to swim. The pools allow them to strengthen their muscles as they bash about and chase their seal friends. It helps them develop social skills and key skills for surviving in the ocean. The also learn to dive here and hone their underwater capabilities.
Why does Black Serpent Star have such beautiful eyes? The answer is because seals have great vision underwater and these eyes allow him to see far and wide. The seals’ wide and round eyes are adapted to focus on refracted light, light that bends as travels through the medium of water from air. In the darker depths of the ocean, seals’ eyes allow them to reflect light and focus on their path ahead. The photoreceptor cells behind the retina allow them to do this!
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About Seal Rescue Ireland:
"Seal Rescue Ireland is a charity dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured, or orphaned seals. As the only Seal Rescue in the Republic of Ireland we have a big responsibility."
Fun facts about seals:
- Seals have a great sense of humour and they enjoy laughing and playing like humans. They can do tricks in the water and always look for fun.
- Seals are rapid and can swim up to 35km/hr!
- Seals greet each other by touching noses and this can look like a kiss.
- Seals have special whiskers which are sensory organs. They detect tiny vibrations under the water to locate prey and navigate their surroundings.
- Some species can breathe under ice and survive in extremely cold conditions.
- Seals make great mothers. If food is scarce they can go for weeks without eating to ensure their pups are well fed.
- Seals can imitate clapping with their flippers to communicate.
- Seals make silly sounds. They can even bark and honk.
- Seals love hanging out on the beach and often sunbathe on the rocks and rest. This can resemble a beach party!
- Seal pups are adorable, like Black Serpent Star. They have chubby faces and big round eyes. Some seals even make a whimpering sound to seem cute.
- Some seals shuffle and wiggle around like toddlers crawl. They even can belly float or tumble in the water when they want to.
- Seals are very picky eaters. They will reject fish that don’t meet their standards and will turn their head away in disappointment,
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