A quartet of seal pups call Vancouver home after being scooped from the shores of the south Island.
Bazzite was first noticed on a rocky outcrop near Sunny Lane in Oak Bay as a newborn. In the method prescribed by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, he was under surveillance for a bit before Oak Bay police were called in to package him up for the trip to the centre for health reasons.
Maternal separation, the primary reason most of the young Harbour seals are in care there, is listed as young Bazzite含羞草研究社檚 official intake reason.
RELATED:
Bazzite was rescued from Oak Bay June 21 and arrived the next day via Harbour Air, which donates cargo space for transporting marine mammals to the centre.
含羞草研究社淎 large percentage of our animals do come from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. It allows us to get the animals much faster,含羞草研究社� says a thankful Lindsaye Akhurst, manager of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
Bazzite was thin and still had his umbilical cord making him fewer than three days old when he arrived.
含羞草研究社淗e seems to be doing alright. He含羞草研究社檚 got a couple things going on. He含羞草研究社檚 a little quiet at times so we含羞草研究社檙e monitoring him quite closely,含羞草研究社� says Akhurst. Bazzite has gained a little weight, had clean bloodwork and is getting daily fluids for dehydration.
Another near-newborn, Garnet was brought in from near a Victoria-area Canadian Coast Guard station. A staff member there spotted it there, and alerted the Vancouver marine centre. The next day when he went on shift, Garnet was still there, his mom nowhere in sight. He joined the patient list June 20.
含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 keeping his food down, but he含羞草研究社檚 just very lethargic so he含羞草研究社檚 another one we含羞草研究社檝e been keeping a very close eye on,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says. He含羞草研究社檚 also on antibiotics and fluid therapy. While he含羞草研究社檚 gained a little weight, he 含羞草研究社渓acks spunk含羞草研究社� shown by other seal pups his age, she added.
A pair of seals from Sooke, who are a little older and bigger, made their way to Vancouver June 24 after a few days at the Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre on Salt Spring.
Neapolitan and Banana Split are bigger animals and doing well. 含羞草研究社淭hey seem to be bright, alert responsive to their caretakers at this point,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says.
The locals are just four of the many expected seal pups to come in to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre this season. They cared for 200 last year.
Once an animal is stabilized and eating fish, staff and volunteers teach them to fish.
When they hit a certain weight and ability the young seals go into a larger pool. There, 含羞草研究社渢hey含羞草研究社檒l forage on their own and compete with other seals,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says.
At an average two months, when they hit the 20 to 25 kg weight and can forage on their own and are free from infectious disease, there含羞草研究社檚 talk of release.
含羞草研究社淭he goal of course is to always release the animals,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says.
The rescue centre selects quieter, protected areas where there含羞草研究社檚 a known food source for group releases.
The goal, however, is to not have healthy pups in care. The last days of spring and early summer see a surge in pups, on land, docks and populated areas which can cause concern.
含羞草研究社淚t is seal pupping season, it is the time of year where seals are giving birth,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says. 含羞草研究社淢oms do leave their pups for an extended period of time while they go out and forage. Not all seal pups you see alone need to be rescued.含羞草研究社�
However, human interaction, tidal changes and weather can all separate a mother from a pup.
含羞草研究社淲e ask people if they含羞草研究社檙e seeing a seal that they feel is need of some assistance, is to call us,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says.
Potentially have someone keep people and pets away from a baby while making the call, and send images and videos to the centre to give an idea of how healthy the young one is.
含羞草研究社淚f we notice in those pictures that they含羞草研究社檙e very thin, look injured in any way, we含羞草研究社檒l expedite the rescue,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says. 含羞草研究社淚f it looks in good condition 含羞草研究社� we might just leave it and see if the mom does come back. The best chance for the animal to be healthy is to be with its mom.含羞草研究社�
Call the Vancouver Aquarium含羞草研究社檚 Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-SEAL (7325) to report a potential marine mammal in distress. Find the centre online at and .
What含羞草研究社檚 in a name
Each year both marine animal care centres have themes for naming the mammals they help. This year the Vancouver facility含羞草研究社檚 theme is gemstones (Bazzite and Garnet) while the Salt Spring facility is ice cream (Banana Split and Neapolitan).
含羞草研究社淲e are a non profit organization that does run hugely on our volunteers. We have a strong volunteer base of over 300 people and small staff of under 15,含羞草研究社� Akhurst says. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 nice to be able to get them involved in some of the things we含羞草研究社檙e doing and they love naming the animals so it含羞草研究社檚 neat to be able to have that for them.含羞草研究社�
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
