When it comes to saving orphaned and injured wildlife, the folks at Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) have nearly seen it all. But last month, after receiving a call from a concerned citizen, they faced an unusual dilemma.
In Kinvarra, one of County Galway’s sea villages, a Good Samaritan named Brian found two baby seals snuggled together along the shore. The SRI team rushed to the seal pups, whom they named Aurora and Aster, and watched for signs of their mother.
It wasn’t long before the rescue team’s worst fears were confirmed.
“We monitored first for some time, but no mother ever returned for either pup,” SRI wrote on Facebook. “It became clear that Aurora and Aster had been orphaned.”
The seal pups, who appeared to be the same size and weight, clung to each other as they waited for their caregiver to return. As soon as the folks at SRI realized the babies had lost their caregiver, they took the pair in.
The team transported Aurora and Aster to SRI’s headquarters with the help of volunteers, where they discovered the truth about the siblings’ relationship.
“We lovingly call them ‘twins,’ though it’s rare for seal pups to be true twins,” SRI wrote. “Most likely, they were born around the same time and separated from their mothers.”
While the nearly identical seal pups, estimated to be about a week old, were probably not siblings, their familial bond was undeniable.
“Alone on the same beach, they found solace in each other and formed a bond in their shared search for comfort,” SRI wrote.
Aurora and Aster’s friendship may have been forged out of tragedy, but their love for each other was utterly joyful. Even after their rescue, the two loyal pups refused to be apart.
“The twins have been inseparable and enjoy snuggling on the heat mat in their kennel together,” SRI wrote.
You can see more pictures of the “twins” here:
It’ll be a while before the babies are big enough to return to their natural habitat. Until then, they’ll continue to thrive thanks to their dedicated caregivers at SRI and the unwavering love they share.
They may not be actual twins, but these sweet babies are forever bonded as such.
