A CREATIVE schoolgirl is amazed to have won a competition to name a seal pup born on Walney.


10 year old Jasmine Carey winner of the name the Evening Mail seal pup competition. MILTON HAWORTH Jasmine Carey was over the moon when the North-West Evening Mail surprised her with the news in assembly.

The 10-year-old St George's CE Primary School pupil has officially named the second grey seal pup to be born at South Walney Nature Reserve. Cumbria Wildlife Trust, which runs the reserve, loved Jasmine's name choice of Finley for the three-week-old pup.

The trust teamed up with the Evening Mail to ask schoolchildren to come up with a name and we have been inundated with drawing entries with name suggestions. Seals have used the protected South Walney beaches to haul out and rest for decades, but there had never been a seal pup birth recorded there until this winter.

It was thought that the first was a one-off, then a second white coated pup was spotted. The reserve now has what could be the start of a breeding colony. The first pup, which is now around six weeks old was unofficially named Glenn by the trust staff.
Finley the seal pup. LINDSEY DICKINGS

The team has congratulated Jasmine as they really like the name Finley for seal pup two as it could be used for a male or female. They also discovered that the name comes from the Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Fionnlagh, from fionn meaning "white, fair" and laogh meaning "warrior, champion."

A delighted Jasmine, who received a certificate from the Evening Mail and the trust, said: "It took me a long time to draw but I really enjoyed it. 

"I love how furry seal pups are and I used to always try to spot them with my dad on Walney.

"When I found out, I couldn't speak because I was really shocked that I'd won. I'm really happy."

She is still to receive more prizes, including a seal pup toy, family membership for South Walney Nature Reserve and a guided visit of the reserve with a warden where they will hopefully see some seals.

Emily Baxter, a marine conservation officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: "Finley is doing really well. We checked on the seals after the storm and Finley was feeding from his or her mum. Finley was very vocal and inquisitive, rolling around to see what was going on elsewhere. Finley has put on weight nicely and is starting to moult and look darker round the face as the white fluff disappears."

Glenn has not been spotted for a bit, but at six weeks old he will be fully moulted. Dr Baxter said there have been quite a high number of female seals and juvenile seals resting on the reserve recently which is encouraging.