Cheered on by a small crowd of media and Deep Cove locals, Truffles, Jalapeno, Chive, Gherkin and Radicchio were released back into the ocean off Indian Arm Wednesday morning with the help of staff and volunteers from the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Aquariums Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
The seals, enjoying their first taste of freedom since being nursed back to health at the centre, were quickly joined by their former pool mates Peanut, Chantrelle, Lemon Grass and Aubergine. Each of the seals had been found malnourished and dehydrated after being abandoned by their mothers.
Aquarium general manager Clint Wright said its common for mother seals to place weeks-old pups on the shore while they fish. He said its also common for concerned humans or off-leash dogs to touch or interfere with a pup, frightening the mother from returning for her offspring. Injured and weakened seals, such as this group of 10, are treated at the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
The seal release was timed to mark the launch of a new, temporary exhibit at the aquarium called Rescue StoriesEvery Animal Counts, which gives visitors a glimpse into the work done at the rescue centre.
Another rescued marine animal in the exhibit includes Daisy, a harbour porpoise that was found stranded and close to death near Victoria in 2008. Just four weeks old at the time, Daisy received round-the-clock care from a group of aquarium volunteers and staff who for days had to constantly hold the porpoise partially out of the water so she could breathe.
Nicole Cann, the aquariums manager of interpreter delivery, started her first shift with Daisy at 3 a.m. She had a 10 per cent chance of survival, said Cann. I still remember the way she shuddered every time she took a breath.
Today, Daisy is a healthy three-year-old, but the aquarium, with approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, will keep the porpoise. The aquarium is concerned Daisy lacks the skills needed to survive in the wild, such as avoiding predators.
Also part of the Rescue Stories exhibit is Schoona, a green sea turtle native to Hawaii, found near death off Schooners Pass close to Prince Rupert. Its believed Schooner followed a current of warm water north, but once the temperature of the ocean dropped found herself in trouble. Schooner underweight and had problems with her shell and skin. Today, Schooner is a robust 236 pounds, but she also wont be released due to uncertainty over her survival skills. Also part of the exhibit is Tanu, the youngest sea otter at the aquarium, which was found orphaned as a pup off the coast of Alaska, and Helen, Hanna and Spinnaker, three white-sided dolphins, survivors of a dolphin hunt in Japan.
Other distressed marine animals rescued along the B.C. coast and treated at the aquariums rescue centre include elephant and fur seals, and Stellar sea lions. Veterinarian Martin Haulena runs the centre along with help from veterinary interns, animal health technicians, animal care rehabilitation specialists and more than 100 volunteers. Several of those volunteers were on hand to assist with the seal release Wednesday.
To be eligible for release, each animal must be clinically healthy, free from disease, have a satisfactory weight, behave competently, be able to feed on their own and, apparently, have a cute nickname, such as Truffles or Peanut.
Rescue Stories runs at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Aquarium until Nov. 6.
Twitter: @sthomas10
