Arctic seal's ice therapy to cure cold phobia

For an Arctic seal living in sub-zero temperatures, a phobia of the cold is not ideal. It is a fear that has almost cost Sahara, a young hooded seal, his life as he has swims thousands of miles in search of warmer waters.

Now though sanctuary staff have resorted to a giant ice-making machine in a last-ditch effort to cure him and rehabilitate him into his natural habitat.

Twice, two-year-old Sahara has swum thousands of miles from the icy waters off Iceland and Greenland in search of heat, first to Morocco and then Spain. On each occasion he has been found washed up, bald and malnourished and close to death.



Staff at the National Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, Cornwall, who have looked after Sahara each of his great escapes, now say if he is to stand any chance of being naturally rehabilitated, he must spend months getting used to the cold.

So they have hired an ice machine capable of generating half a million tonnes of ice each day, which the Hooded Seal is encouraged to roll around and play in.

His carer, Tamara Cooper, said: "Basically the problem is Sahara is an Arctic seal who is afraid of the cold. It's a bit like being a bird which is scared of heights. Hopefully the phobia will be cured with a bit of aversion therapy and Sahara will be proper ice-loving seal again."