October 23, 2007

VANCOUVER AQUARIUM RELEASES

FOUR REHABILITATED SEALS

Vancouver, BC: The Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue staff and veterinarian returned four rehabilitated harbour seals to the ocean at Cates Park today.

The Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue program (MMR) has been providing care and rehabilitation to a variety of sick, injured or abandoned animals since 1960. This year, the program has already released more than 20 seals back into the wild. Other animals that have been treated in the past include sea otters, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, elephant seals, grey whales and killer whales.

Each year Aquarium staff and volunteers name the rescued seals based on a theme - this year’s theme is Harry Potter. Fluffy, Narcissa, Sickle and Howler were released today.

Fluffy came to MMR on August 9 from Sechelt, only about a week old and extremely dehydrated. He was initially fed a milk formula (synthetically manufactured milk powder mixed with fish oil, water and vitamins) before slowly being weaned onto eating fish. He was a pup who did not like to be touched, so it was an exciting day for staff when he finally learned how to eat a fish on his own.

Narcissa was rescued on August 30 from the beach at the Jericho Sailing Club. She was observed alone on a busy beach, and had several visible wounds which needed medical treatment. Staff estimated that she was 7 – 10 days old. Narcissa did well on fish formula (a blend of herring, fish oil, vitamins and water), then quickly learned how to eat fish on her own. She is known by her characteristic scar which zigzags down her forehead.

Sickle was flown by helicopter to MMR on August 23 from Maine Island after he was observed alone and presumed abandoned. Less than two weeks old and extremely vocal, Sickle started off on a milk formula before graduating to fish. A feisty seal, staff is confident that he will thrive on his own in the ocean.

Howler arrived at MMR on July 7 from Port Moody. He had been accidentally transported on a log boom and was observed alone for several hours. Staff thought that he was no more than 7 – 10 days old. Howler was fed a milk formula the first few weeks and because he had several health problems, he was weaned onto fish slowly. Happily, he overcame these health issues to successfully return to the ocean.

The Aquarium’s ongoing Save Our Seals program, which asks Aquarium visitors to donate $2 at admissions in exchange for a Save our Seals sticker, has raised $119,000 for MMR so far this year.

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For further information, please contact:

Brenda Jones

Manager, Public Relations

publicrelations@vanaqua.org