Skegness Magazine

news story date 23rd December 2006

A rare albino seal pup is being cared for at Skegness Natureland Seal Sanctuary after been washed up on the beach at Sutton on Sea.

The seal, named Whitebeam by the sanctuary staff, was found exhausted by a member of the public.
Staff at Natureland said the seal was suffering from lung worm parasites  which affect the pup’s ability to dive underwater to catch fish – and had damaged flippers.
Whitebeam is on a course of antibiotics and is said to be doing well.
Albino seals are very rare and the last one to be cared for at Natureland was in 1994.

Albino specimens are found in all species, including humans. The condition is caused by a mutant gene which fails to produce pigmentation, or colouring. Typically, the eyes of an albino are red. This is because the lack of pigmentation causes the eyes to reflect light, giving them the red colour. The lack of pigmentation also results in the specimen being photosensitive, ie sensitive to light, so they often have their eyes closed, opening them as little as possible.

In the photo below, Whitebeam is being fed by George, one of the Natureland Seal Sanctuary keepers.

Please enter the password ’skegness’ to view our video of the Albino Seal at Skegness Natureland.