6 rescued seals released into the wild after being separated from their mothers
After weeks of intensive care, six rescued seals have now headed back into the wild in what is the first seal release of this year's rescue season, according to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society.
Members of the organization, which recently became a registered charity, have been working closely with the seals, which were abandoned by their mothers as pups.
The six animals were released on Thursday morning at Iona Beach in Richmond.
“When they’re coming in, they’re only a few days old." said Lindsaye Akhurst, the manager of Vancouver Aquarium Mammal Rescue Centre.
"They’re usually dehydrated, malnourished … We’re feeding them five times a day. We’re tube feeding them. Once we get them stabilized, we can actually work with them a little bit more, do physical exams, get blood work and see what else is going on."
She said many of the animals that come into their centre are there because of humans.
"They have plastic that is either ingested or wrapped around their necks. With the harbour seals, they’re getting separated potentially because of busy beaches," Akhurst said.
The group then gets the animals ready and equips them with the necessary skills to survive in the wild.
Acorn, who was brought in June, was one of the pups impacted.
He was born prematurely, underweight and only days old he was separated from his mom.
“His rehabilitation process went really well. He’s been in a pool for the last month and a bit with a few of his cohorts who are coming today to be released," said Akhurst.
"So it’s really great to see him go from that six-, seven-kilo animal to 24 kilos now," she continued.
Leyla Jamba, a volunteer with the group, said it was bittersweet to see them go.
"It’s awesome. I was tearing up. It’s really sweet. It’s bittersweet," she said. "It’s really awesome knowing that we're giving them the skills that they need to be successful in the wild. So, it’s really heartwarming. It’s really nice."
Akhurst agreed, adding that it's rewarding for her and the team.
“I love seeing the animals going back, but I love watching the people who put in the hard work into it too," she said.
She also said not all the animals who are brought into the centre make it, but the team runs necropsies after their deaths to learn more about the animals and how they died, which can be useful for research.
Akhurst said the centre will keep track of the released animals, which are microchipped, and continue to welcome new ones that need rescuing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
Man accused of killing two children at Quebec daycare to stand trial in April 2025
The man accused of murdering two children and injuring six others after a city bus crashed into a Montreal-area daycare is scheduled to stand trial over five weeks beginning in April 2025.