Featured Image Credit: Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre Facebook
They made it home for Christmas! On December 15th, eight harbor seal pups were released back into the water at Porteau Cove in British Columbia, Canada. The adorable pups used their flippers and flopped back into the ocean after months of rehabilitation at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
The eight pups came from various locations in British Columbia in the summer and fall. All of the seals were orphaned and some of them were dehydrated and emaciated. After months of rehabilitation, the pups were found to be healthy enough to be released back into the wild.
Before the big release, four of the eight seal pups were fitted with satellite trackers so that the aquarium’s scientists can know where they go. Aquarium officials say that they have had great success with re-releasing seals into the wild, and all of the individuals that were fitted with trackers are still being tracked.
As the pups were released, volunteers that had been with them through the long journey of recovery cheered them on from the beach, glad that their work had paid off and the seals were now going back home. One volunteer said it was “super satisfying” to see the seals go home.