MYSTIC — A seal who was rescued by staff at Mystic Aquarium after being found “minimally responsive” at a Rhode Island beach earlier this month was returned to the wild on Tuesday morning.
The roughly 8-week-old gray seal pup was found minimally responsive and thin on Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, R.I., on Feb. 15. Veterinarians discovered the seal was recently weaned from his mother. He arrived at the aquarium weighing just 30 pounds.
The seal was named “Мир,” pronounced “Myr,” which aquarium staff said means “peace” in Ukrainian.
Myr was rehabilitated through the aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program. Staff said while he was rehabilitating, he received antibiotics for an infection and fluids for dehydration.
He also received fish four times a day. Staff members made sure not to be visible during these feedings so the seal did not learn to associate humans with food.
Sarah Callan, Mystic’s Animal Rescue Program manager, said animal rescue clinic care is different from the care provided to the aquarium’s resident seals.
“We do not train seals in the clinic, but instead ensure that they remain wild so they will thrive upon release," she said.
Through the Animal Rescue Program, the aquarium said, Myr more than doubled his body weight and was ready to return to the ocean.
Myr was released at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown, R.I., at 10 a.m. Tuesday. After he climbed out of his cage, he looked around at the dozens of people watching him. He then flopped on the beach toward the ocean and swam off.
The Animal Rescue Program responds to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles along the northeastern coastline of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Fishers Island, N.Y.
Anyone who sees a seal in the wild should leave a message on the 24-hour Animal Rescue Hotline at 860-572-5955 ext. 107. People and pets should remain at least 150 feet away from the animals. Do not touch, feed or attempt to help, even if the animal appears to be dead, the aquarium said.
Staff writer Liz Hardaway contributed to this report.
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