Giving Marine Mammals a Second Chance

Did you know that the SEA LIFE TRUST, one of Merlin’s charity partners, is dedicated to giving marine animals a second chance? From beluga whales to seals and puffins, the charity supports rescue, rehabilitation and conservation through its two unique sanctuaries, as well as projects around the world alongside SEA LIFE aquariums and local communities.

A rescue story that started in Cornwall

More than 50 years ago, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary was founded after local animal lover Ken Jones rescued an abandoned seal pup from a nearby beach. What started as one act of kindness grew into one of the world’s first seal rescue centres.

Today, the sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates and releases between 30 and 70 seal pups every year. Some seals become long-term residents if medical conditions mean they can’t safely return to the wild. The sanctuary is also home to 10 rescued Icelandic puffins and occasionally hosts resident beavers as part of a partnership with Beaver Trust, helping support efforts to reintroduce beavers to the UK after more than 400 years.

With stunning coastal scenery, plenty of wildlife and a warm Cornish welcome, it’s also a fantastic day out if you’re visiting Cornwall. Even better, every ticket helps support the sanctuary’s rescue and rehabilitation work. You can also get involved by adopting a seal or puffin, helping care for these amazing animals.

A world-first sanctuary in Iceland

The Beluga Whale Sanctuary in Iceland is another inspiring project from SEA LIFE TRUST, and it’s the first open-water beluga sanctuary of its kind anywhere in the world.

The sanctuary is home to two beluga whales, Little White and Little Grey, who previously performed for visitors at an aquarium in Shanghai. Belugas are highly intelligent and social animals, so SEA LIFE TRUST created this sanctuary to give them the chance to experience a more natural environment.

Their journey was pretty incredible too, the whales actually flew from China to Iceland in a specially adapted aircraft before settling into their new ocean bay home.

Because this type of sanctuary has never been done before, ongoing support is essential to help fund the whales’ care and continue developing the site so they can live there year-round.

The sanctuary team also works closely with the local community to rescue, rehabilitate and release pufflings (baby puffins) on the island.

You can follow their journey and latest updates on Instagram.

Learn more

• Cornish Seal Sanctuary - Where every visit makes a difference
• Beluga Whale Sanctuary - Discover the world-first beluga sanctuary
• SEA LIFE TRUST - Find out more about their conservation work

Follow along:
@sealifetrust | @belugawhalesanctuary | @cornishsealsanctuary