Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre facts for kids
The Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre is a special place in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, England. People often call it the Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary or Mablethorpe Wildlife Centre. It's a fun place to visit and also a hospital for sick and hurt seals. The sanctuary is near a large seal breeding area called Donna Nook. Many of the young seals born there sometimes need help from the sanctuary.
Besides seals, visitors can see many other amazing animals. These include gibbons, meerkats, and different birds of prey. The centre works closely with a charity called Mablethorpe Animal Rescue. They help many native British wild animals, as well as some animals from other parts of the world.
The sanctuary also has a special area called the 'Time Walking' zone. Here, you can see fossils of huge, ancient creatures. These include dinosaurs like the allosaurus and mosasaur, and even the early bird archaeopteryx. Another part of the centre is about the ice ages. It shows animals that used to live in Britain but are now extinct, like the Eurasian lynx. There is also a cafe and a gift shop for visitors.
Visiting the Sanctuary
The Seal Sanctuary is located on Quebec Road, North End. It is very close to the sand dunes by the coast. The centre is open for about 10 months each year. You can visit from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. There is a small fee to enter the sanctuary.
History of the Sanctuary
Before the Seal Sanctuary opened, this land had a different purpose. During the Second World War, it was used as a look-out point. It was also a firing range and a place for camping.
The idea for the sanctuary started in Suffolk in 1965. There was an animal attraction called the Animal and Bird Garden. Its owners, Jerry and Rene King, decided to move it after a flood. The new centre opened in Mablethorpe in 1974. It welcomed its first seal that same year. It was still known as the Animal and Bird Garden back then.
In 1988, the sanctuary faced a big challenge. There was a serious illness called phocine distemper virus affecting seals. An appeal in the Daily Mail newspaper helped the sanctuary raise £20,000. This money helped them deal with the outbreak. The special Seal Hospital opened its doors in 1990.
In 2013, the centre officially changed its name. It became the Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre. This new name showed that it cared for more than just seals. In September 2016, a fire happened at the sanctuary. But the Education Room was rebuilt and reopened in February 2017.
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