Featured Image Credit: L.A Zoo
By Kira Krall
Ziggy, an 11-month old seal pup, has found a new home at the Los Angeles Zoo. She was found in February of 2016 on a beach in Dana Point, California with her umbilical cord still attached. The cord and other afterbirth typically dissolve after 24 hours, which means Ziggy was just a few hours old when she was found.
She was taken to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center for rehabilitation and moved in with her new roommates at the L.A. Zoo after getting a clean bill of health. The Pacific harbor seal pup is joining three Atlantic harbor seals: Alfred, a 14 year old male, and Asia and Mysti, both females in their mid-twenties.
Rehabilitation and release is always a priority for facilities like the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, but Ziggy was deemed unfit for release due to her young age at the time of rescue.
Mother seals provide for their babies in ways other than nursing. She teaches the pup how to maneuver through the water and will defend it from predators. Young seals learn foraging behaviors by observing other adults in action. Without these valuable life skills, the chances of Ziggy’s survival in the wild are slim to none.
Ziggy’s energy and eagerness to learn has already landed her a spot in the zoo’s educational talks. And she doesn’t hesitate to show off her skills to zoo guests at her underwater viewing window.
She will serve as an ambassador animal for seals in the wild and brings her youthful energy to her new home. Read more about the L.A. Zoo and harbor seals here.