British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Founded in 1988 by a group of divers responding to a mass mortality of common seals in East Anglia, BDMLR has grown into one of the major champions for marine mammals in the UK. What began as a grassroots effort during the Phocine Distemper Virus epidemic has evolved into a nationwide network of trained Marine Mammal Medics, ready to respond to seals, whales, dolphins, and other marine wildlife in distress.

BDMLR operates a 24/7 hotline and coordinates rescues across the UK, often transporting seals to rehabilitation centers or assisting with whale strandings and disentanglements. Their Large Whale Disentanglement Team is the only one of its kind in the UK, and their training programs have empowered thousands of volunteers to act swiftly and safely in marine emergencies.

After opening their first seal hospital in Cornwall in 2010, today BDMLR operates a small number of short to medium-term holding facilities for seals, which are largely managed and run by experienced volunteer teams. These are needed for when the long-term rehabilitation centers are not immediately available due to distance or are running at full capacity already. These facilities help alleviate pressure on the national rehabilitation network during busy times, though more centers with complete facilities including pools are desperately needed in the UK to cope with the volume of casualties at certain times of the year.

BDMLR’s phone number might be a seal friend’s most valuable number to save in their phone in the UK, in case they find an injured or sick seal. The organization’s dedication, reach, and expertise make them a cornerstone of marine conservation and welfare.