The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is thrilled to announce the arrival of a very special new resident just in time for Christmas: Cliff the puffin!

Cliff, a male puffin who arrived from Curraghs Wildlife Park on the Isle of Man, has now joined the Sanctuary’s colony of ten rescued puffins to live out his years alongside his new friends.

Rescued from a beach in Douglas, Isle of Man on 29th Oct 2022, Cliff appeared to have been washed up in a storm. He was obviously young and was in a bit of a state, unable to fly and not yet fully waterproof. It was clear that the weakened puffling required urgent attention and care, and thanks to the dedicated efforts of his rescuers and the support of the vets team at Curraghs Wildlife Park in the Isle of Man, Cliff was eventually nursed back to health.

Kathleen Graham General Manager at Curraghs Wildlife Park comments;

“Cliff was initially looked after by our two vets Anna Modlinska and Jakub Witkowski, who went above and beyond to care for him. Once he got through the first few days and started to perk up, they even moved him into their own flat, where they could use their bath as a pool for him!

However, it was obvious this could not be a long-term solution and was hoped that he could be returned quickly back to the wild. Sadly, he appeared still unable to fly, so if he was released, he would not have survived.”

Cliff took a long time to fully recover by which point it was too late in the season to release him, and he had to stay in human care. With no other fellow puffins in rehabilitation, he became imprinted on his human care team and still seemed unable or not willing to fly. It was clear he would not ever be ready to go back to the wild.

The team at Curraghs Wildlife Park began looking at options for Cliff to join another puffin collection and contacted the Cornish Seal Sanctuary to see if they could provide long term care alongside their existing group of 10 rescued puffins.

Kathleen continues; We realised Cliff’s rehab was taking a long time, and it was not in his best interest to not have the company of other puffins...when we saw that the only in care group of Puffins in the UK was at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary we contacted them to ask if they could give him a permanent home and they were happy to help.

We were delighted to hear that Cliff has since integrated well into his new flock – as all the puffins are rescue ones, this is the ideal home for him, and I believe they even have a single lady puffin who hasn’t picked a partner yet…so who knows Cliff may find a little love as well!

Tamara Cooper, curator at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary comments; “While puffins are known for their colourful beaks and remarkable diving abilities, Cliff’s condition meant he needed a sanctuary where he could live comfortably and safely without the pressures of survival in the wild. Here at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Cliff will have the opportunity to thrive in a specially designed environment tailored to his needs. So far, Cliff has taken everything in his stride and is a very cool customer!

We are just going through the careful process of introducing him to his new friends. With avian influenza being back in the UK, additional precautions were taken including additional testing and hygiene measures to make sure the safety of both Cliff and our 10 existing puffins was top priority.”

A Message of Hope and Conservation

Cliff’s story highlights the challenges faced by seabirds and other marine animals in today’s changing world. Habitat loss, pollution, and climate change pose significant threats to marine wildlife. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is committed to raising awareness about these issues and providing a haven for marine animals just like Cliff.

The Sanctuary are inviting the local community to visit the Sanctuary and meet Cliff, who is sure to become a favourite among our visitors. By sharing his journey, they aim to inspire a deeper connection to the ocean and its incredible inhabitants. 

Every visit to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary helps support their vital work rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for marine animals in need. Together, we can make a difference for Cliff and countless others.

  Find out more about the Cornish Seal Sanctuary here