The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center has welcomed a new juvenile male harbor seal!
Just over a year old, this guy has been rescued three times in his short life. He was initially admitted to the National Marine Life Center (NMLC) in Buzzards Bay, MA in 2020 after a well-meaning citizen collected him out of the water. He was released after months of rehab but had to be readmitted to the National Marine Life Center (NMLC) in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts two more times for interactions with humans and dogs and for being tangled in fishing gear.
Since he has habituated to being around humans, and not able to thrive on his own, he has been deemed non-releasable and taken to the Virginia Aquarium.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for a young, stranded seal to begin a new life,” said William “Chip” Harshaw, Vice-President of Animal Care. “I am also hopeful that we can use his story to illustrate the importance of maintaining a safe distance from marine mammals along our beaches and shorelines.”
He is currently in quarantine before he joins the aquarium’s other seals, Hector and Rudder. The quarantine is standard procedure before introducing new animals.
Later this week, the Aquarium will open a Naming Auction for the new seal, where participants can bid for the opportunity to name the newest member of our marine mammal family. The auction will run from June 15 through June 25, 2021.
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