A harbour seal pup rescued in a frail state from White Rock's waterfront in late May has made a healthy return home.
Zeus was released from the shores of Howe Sound on Tuesday (Sept. 2) by staff and volunteers with the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR), in what was described as a bittersweet yet rewarding moment.
"It's obviously a bittersweet feeling seeing them go back out, but also really nice to be able to complete his journey back out to the wild," Lindsaye Akhurst, senior manager of VAMMR, said Thursday.
The "incredibly vulnerable" newborn was found on the shoreline on May 27, weighing just 7.4 kg, still covered in lanugo – a coat normally shed in utero – and showing signs of hypothermia and dehydration.
He "would not have survived without intervention," a news release states.
Initially, Zeus needed fluids for dehydration and was fed six times a day by the care team. He showed signs of stabilization within a week, and by mid-June, was "almost unrecognizable" from how he first arrived, becoming "the most vocal pup on site," his patient file on the society's website stated.
His rescue marked the start of a busy season at VAMMR, which is Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal rescue facility. Akhurst – a Semiahmoo Peninsula resident – said another 75 pups have been rescued in the months since; of those, four did not survive.
Akhurst described the survival rate – 94 per cent – as "extremely high," and a reflection of the team's knowledge and skills. She added that necropsies are always conducted on pups that do not survive, to determine the cause of death and whether there is anything the organization can improve on for the next season.
She added the organization is "100 per cent" successful in its ability to respond to wildlife and do public outreach around respecting the animals and what to do when one is thought to be in distress.
VAMMR is an independent non-profit that rescues and rehabilitates up to 150 marine mammals each year, from harbour seals and sea lions to sea otters and small cetaceans. Over the past six decades, the organization has released more than 3,000 marine mammals.
Akhurst said a three-month stay at the facility is fairly typical for the harbour seal pups that come to the facility.
She said Zeus was released alongside Great Bear, a pup that came to the organization from the Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre on Saltspring following his rescue in July. Both were given biodegradable head tags, as well as a flipper tag that is hoped will stay attached for their lifetime.
Offered their freedom, the pair did not race for the water on Tuesday, Akhurst said.
While some rehabilitated pups are quick to dive back in, "these two definitely took their time, making their way to the ocean and checking out their new surroundings," she said.
"They were in no rush. But once they were in the water, they started exploring. They seemed like they were fairly confident in the water and obviously exploring their new surroundings, their new home."
Anyone who sees a marine mammal in distress is reminded to keep their distance and call VAMMR’s 24-hour hotline at 604-258-SEAL (7325) or the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) at鈥�1-800-465-4336.鈥�
