A harbour seal pup was recently rescued near the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.
According to BC Ferries spokesperson Tessa Humphries on Friday, July 10, ferry employees spotted the pup in the water and contacted the Oceanwise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
“They were able to come out that day and determined the best thing to do was to take the pup into their care,” said Humphries in an email to the Optimist. “They’ve named her Chantel.”
According to the Oceanwise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre in a patient progress report on its website, Chantel is still being fed a zoological milk formula, but as her teeth are beginning to erupt, her diet is being supplemented with fish. Soon, she will enter fish school where she will learn how to eat fish on her own.
The Centre says that the seal pup was rescued because of maternal separation and an eye injury and has been in their care for 12 days thus far.
“Every seal that arrives at the rescue centre is placed in a tub under quarantine,” said the Centre. “This is the first temporary home for each new arrival, where they remain for at least 14 days before they are moved to a larger tub.”
Readers can track the progress of Chantel at this link: https://mmrpatients.org/patient/pv2020-chantel/
The Oceanwise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre also reminds everyone that given it is seal pupping season, this is what you should do if you see a seal pup in distress:
- Stay back
- Keep people and pets away
- Call the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-SEAL (7325)
Rescue situations, and their recommended courses of action, vary dramatically depending on the species concerned. Other critical factors are also involved, such as age, behaviour, location and apparent health. Please don't try to help an animal on your own.
