Seal has phobia of fish

A seal has astonished staff at a marine sanctuary at Hunstanton in north Norfolk by refusing to feed on fish.

Heidi, a five-week-old pup, was rescued from Heacham beach in Norfolk after she was separated from her mother.

She was taken to Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary in north Norfolk, where herring is the staple diet of all the rescued seals.



But for two weeks she refused to eat any and the animal care team had to resort to blending special herring smoothies for Heidi and feeding them to her by tube due to her phobia.

Matthew Fuller, from the animal care team at the sanctuary, said: "It's the first time we've ever come across a herring phobia and it's really quite unusual as all the seals get fed on herring."

Keiran Copeland, displays supervisor who is also helping to look after Heidi, said: "We've never encountered a pup more difficult to get food into. Hopefully it~s just a phase and she'll start taking her meals without a fuss soon."