Featured Image Credit: WTNH
By Alice Morris
What makes a story sweeter than a seal pup being released back into the wild? How about six seal pups!
Last week, Mystic Aquarium bid a proud farewell to a group of harbor seals that were found in various spots along Maine’s coast earlier this spring. Apparently, each pup was abandoned shortly after birth.
The seals were rescued by Marine Mammals of Maine and then taken to Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Clinic for observation. For over a month, between April 25th and May 31st, the seals were nurtured through the early stages of pup-hood.
The seal pups were named Jett, Amethyst, Quartz, Obsidian, Amber, and Sapphire.
On the significant day of September 13th, the seals were finally deemed healthy and mature enough to venture off on their own. Awe, they’re all grown up. *Tear runs down cheek*
Around 200 people gathered at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown, RI to watch the pups shuffle down the beach and disappear into the sea. The seals stuck around the coast for some time before bravely easing their way into deeper waters.
Read more about the seal pups’ release and Mystic Aquarium’s rescue efforts here and here