A sweet seal pup is recovering at an aquarium after being discovered on the streets of Connecticut.
On Feb. 16, a passerby alerted authorities after spotting the seal on the street in downtown New Haven, near Yale University, the Associated Press reported. The New Haven Police Department and stayed with the seal, which was found nearly 1,000 feet from the nearest river, until it could be transported to Mystic Aquarium, according to Officer Christian Bruckhart, per the AP.
“Our first obviously concern was, ‘Is it okay?’ and then it was, ‘Who do we call?’ because, you know, it’s an industrial area, we want to make sure the little guy gets the help he needs,” Bruckhart said in a video shared to Instagram on Tuesday.
“Mystic came through and got the seal … thankfully, it’s okay,” he added.
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“The seal is being monitored closely in our animal rescue clinic,” a representative from the aquarium shared. “He’s learning how to eat fish on his own and is receiving fluids daily to help with his hydration. He will have his individual treatment plan that will aid his recovery.”
According to WTNH-TV, the gray seal, which is believed to be between five and six years old, was spotted in town two other times recently.
“It definitely was concerning for us when we saw he was amidst all that hustle and bustle of the city,” said Mystic Aquarium animal rescue technician Francesca Battaglia, told the outlet.
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When he was first found, he was “bright and alert and looking good,” so the rescue team relocated him to the beach. “But then, unfortunately, the next day, he showed back up in the middle of the city there,” Battaglia said.
The seal was likely trying to get away from the dangers of the water or other seals. “We assumed he was here to try the clam pizza but I can’t confirm that, we’re just happy he’s safe,” Bruckhart joked to AP in an email.
“He’s probably just lost and figured that these are my instincts, but unfortunately, with the area being so developed, it’s not actually a safe place for him,” she added.
Mystic staff are helping the 28-pound seal get his weight up so that he’s “able to hunt on his own and catch what he needs to support himself.” Once he’s healthy, most likely in a few months, he’ll be released somewhere safe.
Until then, the New Haven Police Department is considering having a contest to determine the pup’s name.
