A struggling seal pup who was rescued just days ago near Glendale Cove on B.C.B次元官网网址檚 central coast and saved from certain death is now recovering at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre.
And heB次元官网网址檚 had a royal christening, according to program manager Lindsaye Akhurst.
Centre staff named the pup B次元官网网址� the first one to be rescued this year B次元官网网址� Princeton, recognizing the small mining and forestry community in the provinceB次元官网网址檚 interior.
As part of its Canada 150 celebrations, the centre is naming all seal pups recovered this season after Canadian towns and cities.
Princeton weighed just 7.3 kilograms when he was taken into care last Sunday, said Akhurst. He was dehydrated, covered in a soft fur indicating a premature birth, and his umbilical cord was still attached.
Seal pups are born on land and it is likely PrincetonB次元官网网址檚 mother left him to forage for food and for whatever reason failed to return, she said.
B次元官网网址淲e jumped into actionB次元官网网址e would have died without our intervention.B次元官网网址�
Princeton was rescued after staff at the Knight Inlet Lodge observed him in isolation for several days.
B次元官网网址淔or the first 48 hours stabilization was key for him,B次元官网网址� said Ankhurst.
Princeton was flown on a charter flight to Campbell River, and then Pacific Coastal Airlines picked up the tab to get him safely to Vancouver.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been giving him fluids and tube feeding him formula. His hydration level is up and his energy level is up, just in the last couple of days.B次元官网网址�
After Princeton puts on some weight and is fully recovered he will go to B次元官网网址渇ish schoolB次元官网网址� at the centre, the first step in preparing him to be reintroduced to the wild.
B次元官网网址淥nce we get them eating fish on their own they go into a larger pool and we supply them with a good amount of fish to fatten them up. There are minimal hands-on at that point.B次元官网网址�
Princeton will likely be released in the Campbell River area. B次元官网网址淲e generally pick an area where we know there is a seal population but also an area where there is not much boat traffic.B次元官网网址�
Akhurst said the seal pup name program, initiated to help the public engage with rescued animals, has no formal protocols.
A staff member suggested the name Princeton and a vote determined it was the moniker best suited to the centreB次元官网网址檚 newest baby.
A second seal pup recently rescued in Vancouver was named for Georgina, Ont.
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre saves, rehabilitates and releases about 150 animals every year. Most of the patients are seal pups although the centre also assists sea otters, sea lions, whales, dolphins and porpoises.
The cost of rescuing and successfully returning a seal pup to the wild is approximately $2,000, said Ankhurst.
If you wish to support PrincetonB次元官网网址檚 care and the centreB次元官网网址檚 ongoing work, visit .
The adopt-a-seal-pup program allows you to enter PrincetonB次元官网网址檚 name and make a donation.
