Featured Image Credit:Brent Danley, Flickr.
By: Sarah Sharkey
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center recently rescued a harbor seal from Newport Beach,
California. The young pup was only 23 pounds when the center found him. He is the first harbor
seal pup to be rescued this season.
The rescue team was called to the scene and knew that the animal needed to be taken in for
emergency care. Once at the facility, the seal was given fluids and fed six times a day by
dedicated staff.
The pup, Stardust, needed 24-hour care for the first week he was at the center. He also needed
to be separated from the other seals at the crowded facility. The team watched Stardust closely
for over 2 weeks as his condition remained perilous. The main issue was that his temperature
was completely out of balance. A spokesman from the center said, “His temperature was
fluctuating from 94 (degrees) to 104 degrees.” The wide swing in temperatures had the staff
worried, but eventually his internal body controls started to regulate his temperature better.
Stardust now seems to be doing well. He is already diving for fish and learning the skills he will
need to survive in the wild. Hopefully this young pup will be able to be released soon.
Read more from the source.