About Us – Our Story

The story of the Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre begins long before the sanctuary itself opened its gates.

In fact, the roots of the sanctuary go all the way back to 1940, when a small act of kindness sparked a lifelong passion for caring for animals. During the Second World War, a grandfather who had been called up to serve in the Far East was forced to release his collection of birds. One bird — a bullfinch — refused to leave. A young girl, just five years old at the time, volunteered to look after it. That simple moment marked the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to helping animals in need.

Years later, that passion for rescuing animals developed into a small zoological attraction. In 1974, Jerry and Rene King moved their animal collection from Suffolk to the Lincolnshire coast and opened what was then known as the Animal and Bird Garden in Mablethorpe.

That same year, something happened that would change the direction of the attraction forever — the first rescued seal arrived. What started as a small animal garden quickly became something much more important. As more injured and orphaned seals were brought in for care, the team began developing the knowledge, facilities, and equipment needed to rehabilitate them.

Over the following decades, the sanctuary continued to grow.

By the mid-1980s, the first large seal pool had been built to properly house and rehabilitate seals. In 1990, a dedicated Seal Hospital was opened, allowing rescued animals to receive specialist care before being returned to the wild whenever possible.

As the years went on, the site expanded further with new habitats and rescue facilities. In 2000, a series of interconnected seal pools were created to give the resident seals a more stimulating and natural environment.

At the same time, the sanctuary began caring for a wider range of rescued animals. Over the years, the collection has included birds of prey, primates, reptiles, meerkats and other wildlife, creating an attraction where education, conservation and rescue work all come together.

A New Chapter – 2011 to Today

In 2011, the sanctuary entered a new chapter when we took over the running of the site.

Since then, we have continued to build on the incredible legacy created before us — caring for rescued animals, supporting wildlife rehabilitation, and welcoming thousands of visitors each year to learn about the animals that live here.

Our aim has always been to preserve what makes the sanctuary special:
a place where animal rescue, conservation, education and family experiences all come together.

In recognition of how much the attraction had grown beyond its original focus, the site was rebranded in 2013 as the Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre.

Today, we are proud to still be here, continuing the work that began many decades ago — rescuing animals, caring for those that cannot return to the wild, and giving visitors the opportunity to connect with wildlife in a meaningful way.

From that single bullfinch in 1940 to the sanctuary you see today, the story of Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary has always been about people who care deeply about animals and are determined to give them a second chance.

And that story is still being written every day.