27 June, 2008

A COMMON seal pup rescued from Lerwick harbour on Wednesday has been named Mareel to celebrate the council’s decision to fund the cinema and music venue.

Jan Bevington, of Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, was called out to the small boat harbour on Wednesday afternoon just after she had heard of the vote in Lerwick Town Hall that morning.

She said yesterday (Thursday) that she was called by the coastguard saying there was a baby seal in trouble, and drove to town to pick it up.

“I was so excited when I heard the council had decided to build Mareel there was no question in my mind as to what to call her.

“I believe there will be lots of people young and old who will enjoy the benefits of what Mareel will have to offer.”

Meanwhile Mareel the seal is thriving, eating well, taking milk and fish and making a lot of noise back at the sanctuary where she is being looked after alongside two other common seal pups, one from Yell and the other from Eshaness.