6 rehabilitated harbour seals return to B.C. ocean near Richmond

Six rehabilitated harbour seals belly-slid into an ocean of possibility on Thursday after being released by the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Team.

Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the rescue team, says each seal has spent the past two to three months under their care at the aquarium, after being separated from their mums for various reasons.

“One was on a tug boat that came from one of the Gulf islands and once it came to the Lower Mainland, they found the pup on there,” she said.

Akhurst says most animals come to them between mid-June and mid-July, during B.C.’s harbour seal pupping season.

“When they first come in, they’re very malnourished and dehydrated because they’ve been separated from their mums and haven’t been eating anything for a while,” she said.

Under the care of Akhurst’s team, the pups are started on fluids, before being tube-fed five times per day.

After three to four weeks, she says the pups are usually strong enough to begin feeding on fish and that’s when they’re introduced to “fish school.”

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There, they learn how to catch and compete with other seals for fish.

Once the seals have proven they can compete against their cohorts in the pool, weigh at least 22 kilos, and have been given a clean bill of health by veterinarian staff, they’re ready for release.

Akhurst says all six seals were released at the same time because it’s easier for the team to manage, time-wise.

While some of them will likely stick around the area for a while, Akhurst says the seals are mostly solitary animals and won’t hang out together for too long.

Akhurst says her favourite part of releasing the seals is watching her volunteer team members get to reap the benefits of all their hard work.

“It’s one of those bittersweet moments where you’re really happy for them and the whole process that they’ve made it through, because we’ve given them a second chance at life,” she said.
“But it’s also a bit emotional too because you’ve spent so much time with them.”

With salmon runs around the corner, Akhurst says she’s now turning her attention to the increased presence of sea lions, some of which end up ensnared in plastic or marine debris.

If anyone spots a marine animal in distress, she says they should call the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre or the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ incident line.

With files from Cole Schisler