The Irish Times: Young ‘doctors of the sea’ can often need a helping hand

Crowd gathered on Co Wexford beach to witness the release of four grey seal pups back into the wild.

There’s a light breeze and intermittent sunshine on the beach north of Courtown Harbour in Co Wexford. About 400 people have gathered to witness the release of four grey seal pups back into the wild following their rehabilitation at Seal Rescue Ireland.

Adults and children alike are genuinely excited to see the four seal pups – whose recovery many have observed on videos and photographs – manoeuvre their way along the beach into the water. After flopping along the sand, the seals immediately become agile swimmers, staying close to the shore for a few minutes – as if to acknowledge the crowds – and then bobbing up and down across the waves out to sea.