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About Us
Welcome to Aroha Seal Sanctuary, where our dedicated team of trained marine life medic volunteers is committed to the and rehabilitation of orphaned, sick, and injured seals We work tirelessly to resuscitate and treat these remarkable animals, providing essential care, including tube feeding vital electrolytes.
We collaborate closely with renowned seal assessment and uplift organisations, as well as rehabilitation and release centers across UK. Our efforts have transformed seal rescue in the Western Isles of Scotland, where seals are stabilised and treated with essential medication from local veterinary practices. This vital support has led to a significant increase in seal survival rates and a higher number of seals successfully returned to their ocean home.
How we got here...
Harbour seals are an important part of our coastal ecosystem, with around 100,000 across Europe. The UK holds 30% of this population, 80% of which are in Scottish waters. Around 78% of Scotland’s harbour seals are found on the west coast, including an estimated 5,704 in the Western Isles, about 12.4% of the national total.
Grey seals are more numerous, with a global population of around 400,000. The UK supports 40% of these, and around 90% breed in Scotland.
Despite this, there was no local facility in the Western Isles to care for vulnerable seal pups. Existing centres, such as Caithness Seal Rehab & Release and Scottish SPCA Fishcross, were too far away for timely care.
This highlighted the need for a local holding facility to stabilise and support seal pups before transfer to long-term rehabilitation.
By December 2024, we had grown to a dedicated team of four trained marine medic volunteers and established a two-bay holding facility. This allowed us to resuscitate, treat and rehydrate seal pups on site, providing essential early care before they were safely transferred to long-term rehabilitation centres.
As our work has continued, we saw a clear increase in both the number of seals requiring assistance and the complexity of cases. In response, we secured funding to move to a larger facility, which will include a purpose-built pool for the seals. This next stage of development will significantly enhance our capacity, allowing us to provide more advanced care and support even more pups in need.
Meet The Team
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Lily Mackenzie - Founder
Lyndsay Dubberley - Volunteer Supervisor
Debra Myles - Volunteer Supervisor
Jim Myles - Lead Volunteer
Aroha is led by founder Lily, supported by Jim as Lead Volunteer, with Debs and Lyndsey as Volunteer Supervisors. Together, the team brings experience from a range of healthcare and emergency service backgrounds, combining professional skills with a shared passion for marine welfare.
We are deeply committed to the protection and preservation of our local seal populations. Through strong working relationships and ongoing training, we continue to develop our knowledge and expertise in seal assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
This work means a great deal to us. We care deeply about every animal we support and are excited to continue growing our impact across the Western Isles in the years ahead.
Community Engagement...
Aroha Volunteers are dedicated to raising awareness about common and grey seals in our local schools community centers. Our engaging talks cover crucial environmental and climate issues that marine life, while offering practical ways to support a healthy coastline. As the first and only seal sanctuary in the Western Isles, we are committed to developing our facility for long-term rehabilitation and release of seals. Additionally, in the near future, we are excited to introduce an educational space within our new premises to further our mission.
If you are interested in booking one of our educational talks, please get in touch.