Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre releases last seal pups of the season

The last seals of the season were released by Vancouver Aquarium on Friday, with three harbor seal pups sent back to the sea.

“They were the last Christmas stragglers, so to speak,” said Emily Johnson, Manager of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.

Each of the three pups were admitted with injuries, one of which was caused by a human. Pups have often been abandoned or lost by their mothers, and can’t survive alone until they’re older.

Being all cute for a treat..

Please and thank you!#vanaqua #vancouveraquarium #vancouverbc#mmr pic.twitter.com/uRp6nbglWJ

— Vancouver Aquarium (@vanaqua) December 14, 2021

Harbor seals are the most commonly rehabilitated species to come out of the centre, Johnson says, although each one admitted was born in the wild. They release them in small groups so the transition to living out of human care isn’t so jarring, but they are solitary by nature and likely don’t stay together long-term.

“We also rehabilitate California sea lions, Stellar sea lions. We have rehabilitated turtles in the past, and small cetaceans like harbor porpoises — you name it,” she says.

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Unfortunately, Johnson says, marine mammal disturbances have increased since the pandemic. She’s not sure what exactly the reason is but suggests the rising rate could reflect an increase in outdoor activities for British Columbians feeling restless under health restrictions.

“There are more people on beaches and things like that,” she said. “But we did notice an increase in people interfering with animals, maybe collecting the pup off the beach before they called us, which is backward to the way we would want a case to start.”

Instead, if you find a marine animal that you believe to be in distress, call the rescue centre’s hotline right away. It’s not uncommon to find animals like seals and otters on the shore by themselves, she adds. That’s particularly true for harbor seal pups whose moms leave them on the sand while they forage for food.

“Then what we can do is make sure that animal actually does need our assistance,” said Johnson.

Aaaand it’s a wrap for Dory. The first harbour seal pup ever to be born at the rescue centre has been released. She joined 6 other patients at a release in Porteau Cove on Sunday. You can track Dory on her new adventures via sat tag: https://t.co/UWLmxfG0Ki (Video: Brenda) pic.twitter.com/C1znYeliBD

— Marine Mammal Rescue (@MarMamRescue) October 19, 2021

The hotline at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Centre is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, but seal pups are usually born around July.

That’s when Johnson anticipates a new group of animals to take care of and release.

In the meantime, she and her colleagues will be working on advancing their program and knowledge of medicine.