Nissan comes to the rescue of seals with specially-adapted Qashqai

Nissan has created a special version of its Qashqai SUV to help rescue injured or abandoned seal pups.

The specially adapted Qashqai has been put into use by Caithness Seal Rehabilitation and Release, a coastal wildlife sanctuary near John O’Groats.

Run by founders Phil and Clare Boardman and a team of volunteers, the charity rescues injured, abandoned or sick seal pups and nurses them back to health before returning them to the ocean. Since 2022, it has rescued and released more than 130 pups.

Now an ‘essential tool’ for the team, the Qashqai was given a variety of modifications before being put into service. All-season tyres were fitted to help boost grip on wet and greasy slipways, while a waterproof bootliner provides a safe spot for seal pups to be transported. Roof bars were equipped to help carry emergency stretches, and overall visibility was boosted through the fitment of emergency lighting and a custom livery.

Underneath, the special Qashqai gets the same e-Power hybrid setup as the regular car, bringing a blend of petrol and electric propulsion.

Clare said: ‘‘The Qashqai e-Power has been very useful to us here at Caithness Seal Rehab and Release and Nissan have adapted it perfectly to suit our needs. The car is wonderfully quiet so it’s ideal for transporting seals and it’s really comfortable – a dream to drive in fact!

‘‘As a small charity, we rely mainly on donations from the public. The costs of nursing a seal pup back to full health are considerable, so anything that improves our financial position is always welcome.

‘‘Our Qashqai has certainly been helping us reduce our transport costs. It’s a very fuel-efficient car, which is important, because we cover large distances when we’re picking up seal pups.’’