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Vancouver Aquarium releases rehabilitated seal pups back to the sea

Peanut Butter Cup, Pumpkin Cheesecake and Cinnamon Bun make their way home for the holidays
After rehabilitation and treatment, seven pups were released into the Salish Sea at Iona Beach Regio
After rehabilitation and treatment, seven seal pups were released into the Salish Sea at Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond, Dec. 18, ready to return to their natural habitat. Photo Dan Toulgoet

The last group of the rescued seal pups has left the care of the Vancouver Aquarium to go home for the holidays.

After rehabilitation and treatment, seven pups were released into the Salish Sea at Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond, Dec. 18, ready to return to their natural habitat.

All around two to three months in age, the pups were transported to the beach in small kennels to be released a few at a time. While some waddled quickly over the sand into the water, others were not as keen. Staff and volunteers had to give some extra encouragement by slowly tipping the kennels until the seals slid out and on to the beach. Once in the water, the seal pups bobbed around close to shore until the whole group eventually made it to the sea. 

Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the Vancouver Aquarium Mammal Rescue Centre, said the beach as an ideal spot to release the young seals. “It's a nice closed bay so they're fairly protected for the first little while if they want to stick around. We know that there are seals over on the other side, so we know there's a bit of a food source here to keep them going.”

In 2018, 172 seal pups were rescued and treated for rehabilitation at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue, a hospital for sick, injured or orphaned marine animals. As part of the Ocean Wise, a not-for-profit initiative, the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue centre rehabilitates rescued animals until they are determined healthy for release.

Once the seals are in the water, it varies how long they stay in the area or where they will travel. Akhurst said satellite link transmitters are placed on the seal pups to monitor their movements. In past releases, some seals have made it as far as Vancouver Island within a week’s time while others hang out on shore for a few days.

The resource centre operates with the help of volunteers to ease the heavy workloads of staff. Akhurst said some animals require 24-hour care depending on their initial condition, and the seals released today were in care of the centre for about two months — almost their entire lives.

“It’s very labour intensive at times, but as you can tell, it’s very rewarding too,” Akhurst said.

Among the pups leaving Tuesday are Peanut Butter Cup, Pumpkin Cheesecake and Cinnamon Bun. Only one harbour seal remains at the centre undergoing treatment. There are no plans for more releases until next year.

For more information, go to vanaqua.org.