Five years ago, a tiny seal pup named Kale was fighting for her life.
In 2020, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) found Kale alone and underweight along the coast and rushed her to RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, where she finally had the chance to grow, heal and feel safe.
“She was in poor condition when she arrived,” Lee Stewart, manager of RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, said in a press release. “At first, she needed to be tube fed, then hand fed fish until she was strong enough to feed herself.”
As Kale gained weight and confidence, her care team moved her into an outdoor pool to help prepare her for the wild life she’d nearly lost. Day by day, the fragile pup transformed into a strong, capable seal.
Once she was ready, Kale was released back into the sea off the coast of North Wales — and instead of disappearing, she made the area her home.
Last year, rescuers were thrilled to spot Kale thriving in the wild. But when she resurfaced again this year, she delivered an even bigger surprise.
Kale had become a mother.
Photographs captured the once-orphaned seal swimming proudly alongside her own pup, now named Amethyst. Healthy, alert and clearly well cared for, the baby seal is thriving under Kale’s watchful eye.
“This is such an uplifting story,” Stewart said. “To see that Kale has done so well back in the wild that she’s now raising her own pup is incredibly rewarding. When she came into our care, she wasn’t in great condition, but thanks to the dedication of our team — and support from Welsh Mountain Zoo — she made an amazing recovery.”
When rehabilitated seals are released, rescuers always hope they’ll survive and thrive — but rarely do they get such clear proof that their efforts truly worked.
Seeing Kale return, healthy and confident, with a pup of her own is a powerful reminder of why rescue and rehabilitation matter so deeply.
“Moments like this show just how vital our work is,” Stewart said. “It’s incredibly special to witness.”
