Photo: national aquarium
Baltimore’sNational Aquariumis helping seals take confident flippered steps into adulthood.
Too young to survive on his own, the grey seal pup was admitted to the National Aquarium’s Animal Care and Rescue Center (ACRC). He joins two other maternally-dependent grey seals recently found alone in need of help. The National Aquarium believes a group of grey seals might have set up a colony, also known as a rookery, in mid-Atlantic waters based on the increasing number of juvenile seals spotted in the area.
The ACRC named its newest young grey seal resident Louis Armstrong. In the month since he arrived at the National Aquarium’s rescue center, Louis has been treated with antibiotics to address infections resulting from his wounds. He has also started mastering independent swimming and foraging for food.
national aquarium
The continuing development of these survival skills is vital for Louis' future. The National Aquarium hopes to give the young seal all the tools he needs to survive in the wild, so he can be released into the ocean to enjoy his life.
Louis has already developed a reputation for being “vocal and spirited,” according to the aquarium’s release. His big personality has helped him get comfortable learning how to find fish for himself. Once Louis can prove that he can find his own fish and care for himself, the National Aquarium will prepare for his release.
The seal pup will stay at ACRC until he is ready to return to the Atlantic Ocean. Along with learning how to fish, Louis will need to meet several health checks, including reaching a weight of 50 pounds, before he is deemedeligible for release.
The National Aquarium advises that, should you encounter a beached seal, you should not touch or approach the animal, as it may only be resting. The best way to get adequate care for a stranded seal, per the aquarium, is to keep a distance of 150 feet from the animal, note your location and time of day, and immediately contact the National Aquarium’s Stranded Animal Hotline at 410-576-3880.
source: people.com
