The National Seal Sanctuary
The Sanctuary started in the winter of 1958 when a baby seal, only a few hours old, was washed up on the beach at St Agnes. Ken Jones lived with his wife just one hundred yards from the beach, he picked up the pup and took it back to his small garden.
For many years he ran a rescue centre for seals and oiled birds, with just one pool, at St Agnes. The news of his work with seals spread, and he received more and more calls about injured seals.
Ken realised he needed more room, as the single pool at St Agnes was just not big enough.
The Sanctuary moved to Gweek in 1975, and Ken slowly built up the size, and number of pools, so he could care for the increasing number of seals that were being rescued around the Cornish coast. Today the Sanctuary has nursery pools, convalescence, and resident pools, and a specially designed hospital.
The hospital over the years has been extended to include isolation pools, as well as treatment and preparation areas.
We have rescued many seals over the years, and most are well enough to be released back into the wild after treatment, but some seals, for various reasons, would not survive back in the wild, so we have them as our guests at the Sanctuary.
In addition to the Grey and Common Seals, we have Fur Seals and Californian & Patagonian Sea Lions. The Sanctuary also provides a much-needed haven for a variety of other animals, such as Otters, Sheep, Ponies and Goats. Occasionally the Sanctuary's facilities and expertise are called upon to aid in the rescue of other marine creatures such as Dolphins and Turtles.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
OPENING TIMES
Open every day of the year apart from Christmas Day.
Opening times are from 10am.
Please check with the centre for spring, summer, autumn and winter closing times, as these may vary.
Entry ticket valid all day, Free Safari Bus (Summer season only) and Feeding demonstrations throughout the day.
HOW TO FIND US
When you arrive by car at Helston, head for R.N.A.S. Culdrose on A3083 (signposted Lizard), drive along this road to the roundabout.
Turn left at the roundabout (signposted St Keverne). About ½ mile along on the B3293 road, turn left and follow the signpost to Gweek.
When you arrive in Gweek village, turn right just before the "Gweek Inn" pub and follow the signs to Seal Sanctuary.
Well behaved dogs, on a lead, are always welcome at the Sanctuary.
Address:
The National Seal Sanctuary,
Gweek, near Helston,
Cornwall
TR12 6UG