Caithness seal rehab and rescue centre launches fundraiser to fund purchase of vital equipment

A dedicated seal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Caithness has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to fund the purchase essential rescue equipment aimed at enhancing the safety and efficiency of their operations.

Since opening its doors in November 2022, Caithness Seal Rehab & Release has cared for 80 seal pups and juveniles, successfully releasing 71 back into their natural habitat, marking a commendable 90 per cent rehabilitation success rate.

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But with an ever-increasing number of rescues, the need for specialised equipment has become paramount, organisers say.

The group is aiming to raise £1420 to purchase two UK-manufactured stretchers and a specialized seal-catching net from the United States.

A spokesperson for the centre said: “In the summer of 2024, we admitted 16 common seal pups, almost tripling in numbers from the year before. Then 21 grey seal pups in the winter season.

“In total we have rescued 78 seal pups and two juveniles, making a total of 80. We have released 69 pups and two juveniles, making the release total 71.

“Unfortunately we lost nine pups between 2022 and 2025, but our success rate in rehabilitating and releasing seal pups and juveniles is 90 per cent.

“We would like to be equipped to do safer and easier rescues with the new stretchers, which are produced in the UK, and a very unique seal catching net. Unfortunately the net is not produced in the UK so we have to buy it from America, so there we must raise funds to cover this cost.

“The net will come in very handy for when we are rescuing juveniles when are generally bigger and stronger.

“We will be the only seal rescue centre in Scotland to have a seal rescue net.”

Notably, Caithness Seal Rehab & Release has pledged to make the equipment, both the stretcher and the net, available to other rescue organizations as needed.

The fundraising campaign is active until July 17, 2025, and supporters can contribute via the Crowdfunder platform.

For more information or to donate, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rescue-stretchers-and-rescue-specialised-net.

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