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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/22/seal-found-in-field-merseyside-rescue-under-way
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Stranded seal rescued from Merseyside field 20 miles from sea | Stranded seal rescued from Merseyside field 20 miles from sea |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A seal has been rescued more than four hours after it was first reported stranded in a field in north-west England. | |
| The mammal was spotted by a dog walker up to 20 miles inland at Newton-le-Willows, near St Helens, Merseyside, at about 9.45am on Monday. | The mammal was spotted by a dog walker up to 20 miles inland at Newton-le-Willows, near St Helens, Merseyside, at about 9.45am on Monday. |
| The young grey male seal is thought to have travelled up the river Mersey and found its way into a brook near the field. | The young grey male seal is thought to have travelled up the river Mersey and found its way into a brook near the field. |
| The unusual scene attracted a lot of local interest but members of the public were warned to stay away as seals are said to be “potentially dangerous”. | The unusual scene attracted a lot of local interest but members of the public were warned to stay away as seals are said to be “potentially dangerous”. |
| Police called for the assistance of the British Diver Marine Life Rescue Service, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Merseyside fire and rescue service in the operation. | |
| Shortly after 2pm the “exhausted” seal was coaxed into a RSPCA trailer with a bait of mackerel and was then transferred to the RPSCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire. | Shortly after 2pm the “exhausted” seal was coaxed into a RSPCA trailer with a bait of mackerel and was then transferred to the RPSCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire. |
| In a statement, Merseyside police said: “Police and fire officers, with the help of a local farmer have herded the seal on to a RSPCA trailer. | In a statement, Merseyside police said: “Police and fire officers, with the help of a local farmer have herded the seal on to a RSPCA trailer. |
| “Its condition is described as being exhausted and has now been taken to the RSPCA’s wildlife hospital in Stapeley Grange, Nantwich, for assessment. | “Its condition is described as being exhausted and has now been taken to the RSPCA’s wildlife hospital in Stapeley Grange, Nantwich, for assessment. |
| “Once fully recovered they hope to release the seal back into its natural habitat.” | “Once fully recovered they hope to release the seal back into its natural habitat.” |
| It is thought the animal may somehow have arrived in the field from the Mersey estuary, which starts 11 miles away at Runcorn. | It is thought the animal may somehow have arrived in the field from the Mersey estuary, which starts 11 miles away at Runcorn. |