This is one of “those stories that reminds us of the profound, lifelong bond between humans and animals. It’s the story of Yulelogs the Rescued Seal, a creature whose life began in tragedy, stumbled through confusion, and found a permanent, loving home at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. His journey proves that “home” isn’t always about where you were born; it’s about where you are loved.
A Tragic Beginning
In 1989, a tiny, weak, and hungry grey seal pup was found alone, pulled from the freezing waters off England. Rescuers at a marine park took him in, naming him “Yulelogs.” He quickly became a favorite, growing up surrounded by human laughter, splashing pools, and the kindness of handlers who tossed him fish. The park was the only life he ever knew.
Years later, the park was forced to close. Believing they were doing the right thing, his handlers released Yulelogs back into the vast, open ocean to “be free.” But there was one heartbreaking problem: Yulelogs had no idea how to be a wild seal.
A Desperate Plea for Help
In the wild, seals must hunt, dive, and fear humans. But Yulelogs only knew humans as a source of food. Soon, beachgoers began reporting a strange sight: a large seal actively following people, barking and splashing playfully. But he wasn’t playing; he was begging.
He was approaching anyone with a bucket, associating them with the fish he’d always been given. He was starving. When the RSPCA finally intervened, Yulelogs the Rescued Seal was dangerously underweight—less than a quarter of his healthy body weight. He had tried to return to the only life he knew.
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A Forever Home at Last
Recognizing he could never survive in the wild, the RSPCA called the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, which gave him a permanent, safe home. The staff immediately saw that Yulelogs was different. “He’d look at you the way a dog does—straight into your soul,” one caretaker said. “He didn’t see people as strangers. To him, we were his family.”
At the sanctuary, Yulelogs thrived. He regained his health, reaching over 200 kilograms, his silver fur gleaming. He became the sanctuary’s most beloved ambassador, a living symbol of why some rescued animals cannot be returned to the wild and deserve lifelong care.
A Birthday Worth Celebrating
Yulelogs’s story is one of incredible resilience. Grey seals in the wild have a life expectancy of about 25 years. Yulelogs, however, has defied all expectations. In 2020, he turned 31, making him one of the oldest known male grey seals in the world.
To celebrate this amazing milestone, the sanctuary team gave him a special “ice cake”—a massive, frozen tower layered with his favorite fish: mackerel, herring, and sprats. The team watched with joy as he spent hours splashing, grunting, and playfully chipping away at the ice to get his treats. “It’s a joy to see him still so playful, even after all these years,” said a sanctuary spokesperson.
His birthday celebration wasn’t just a party; it was a celebration of his survival and the decades of love and care he’d received. Yulelogs, the pup who was never taught how to be a seal, instead taught humans one of the most important stories about compassion: that every life matters, and that love can truly reshape destiny.
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