For the first time ever, Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration released two male harbor seal pups off shore on Wednesday, August 27. The release took place in Fishers Island Sound off Groton’s coast. The open-water release was made possible through a partnership with Project Oceanology, a marine science and environmental education program, whose staff participated in the release aboard one of its Enviro-lab research vessels.
Previously, Aquarium staff released seals into their natural habitats from the beach; however, seal pups are naturally inquisitive, which increases their potential for interaction with people. Pups conditioned to the public at this age can become problem animals as adults, putting both the seals and public at risk.
“In addition to increasing their safety, releasing the pups directly into Fishers Island Sound allowed us to bring them to an area known to be populated by harbor seals, which will help them become acclimated to their new surroundings,†said Janelle Schuh, stranding coordinator at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.
Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration has cooperated with Project Oceanology on educational programs for decades. When Project Oceanology Director Thaxter Tewksbury learned that the Aquarium wanted to release the two seals into open water, he offered the use of an Enviro-lab vessel.
Seal Release
“Project Oceanology has a long-standing history of mutual interests with Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration and naturally wanted to help facilitate this important release,†said Tewksbury. â€We look forward to working with the Aquarium on similar releases in the future.â€
One of the pups was originally rescued on May 26, 2008, by the Department of Marine Resources in Maine and was transferred to Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration’s Seal Rescue Clinic the next day.
The second harbor seal pup was rescued on May 30 by the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, and brought to the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, which transferred the pup to the Seal Rescue Clinic on June 12.
Both pups were thin upon arrival, possibly from being abandoned by their mothers. They were tube-fed formula similar to seal mothers’ milk for two to three weeks, then weaned onto fish. To prepare them for release, Seal Rescue Clinic staff later taught the pups to find food in the water. On the day of their release, both had gained weight and had normal bloodwork.
About Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration is a division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit institution. The foundation’s mission is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.
About Project Oceanology
The mission of Project Oceanology is to nurture interest and enthusiasm for science and the planet's marine environment. Since its inception in 1972, Project Oceanology has grown into a full-fledged marine science and environmental education program with a 22,000-square-foot building and a variety of oceanographic equipment and vessels. Approximately 25,000 people each year participate in Project Oceanology's programs. Project Oceanology remains a non-profit organization whose members are public school districts, colleges, universities and educational institutions.
