Puffin Amazing! How We’re Helping These Feathered Friends with the SEA LIFE TRUST

Did you know the Atlantic Puffin is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List? That means these adorable seabirds need a helping hand – and we’re here to give it!

Meet the Puffin: The Sea’s Feathered Acrobat

Atlantic puffins are true ocean adventurers! They spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to breed. Sure, they can fly through the air like other birds, but here’s the cool part: they also “fly” underwater! Using their wings as paddles and their webbed feet as rudders, puffins zoom through the waves like little feathered submarines.

And where do most puffins call home? Around 90% of the Atlantic puffin population lives in Europe, with 80% in Iceland and Norway. The rest? They breed around Britain and Ireland – and there are over 1 million puffins in the UK! That’s a lot of puffin power.

What’s on the Menu?

Puffins are fish fanatics! Their favourite snacks include sand eels and herring, which they hunt underwater. They’re speedy swimmers, usually staying under for about 30 seconds, but they can dive as deep as 200 feet and hold their breath for up to a minute. Talk about puffin impressive!

Why Puffins Need Our Help

Here’s the not-so-fun fact: puffins are in trouble. The UK’s puffin population could plummet by up to 90% in the next 30 years. Why? A mix of challenges:

• Invasive predators (think sneaky rats and other species)
• Pollution
• Food shortages caused by overfishing
• Accidental capture in fishing nets

That’s why puffins are on the Red List of UK Birds of Conservation Concern. But don’t worry we’re on a mission to turn the tide!

How SEA LIFE TRUST Is Making Waves for Puffins

At SEA LIFE TRUST, we’re dedicated to rescuing and caring for these incredible birds at our Cornish Seal Sanctuary and our Beluga Whale Sanctuary and Puffin Rescue Centre in Iceland.

And wow, 2025 was a big year for puffin care in Iceland! Our team welcomed a whole flock of feathered friends, from kittiwakes and fulmars to storm petrels, plus a redwing and even a wagtail! Puffling season (that’s baby puffins!) was extra busy, with more downy pufflings needing TLC. And 12% of birds arrived oiled – yikes!

Our expert team tackled everything: ataxia, paralysis, respiratory issues, even foreign object ingestion. The numbers? Over 1,170 birds examined, 276 cared for, and a max capacity of 110 birds at once! Through every challenge, our dedicated crew never stopped pushing for better outcomes. Together, we’re making a difference – one puffin at a time.

How You Can Help Puffins Too

Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to give puffins the care they need. Want to keep the puffin love going? You can help SEA LIFE TRUST continue its amazing work for puffins and other marine animals.

To find out how you can support our work, click the link below:

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