Starving Pacific Harbor Seal Pup Is Saved

The following story was shared with us by Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles.

On April 23, 2019, a little Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pup was picked up from Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles. It looked very small and skinny, and the mother was nowhere to be seen.

Marine Animal Rescue picked up the seal and brought it to our hospital at Marine Mammal Care Center, where it was evaluated by our staff. The pup was a little male weighing only 22 pounds, which is no bigger than what these seals should weigh at birth. Being so small and underweight, he was in dire need of good nutrition.

On admission to the hospital, he was given an oral solution containing EmerAid Intensive Care Piscivore, water, electrolytes, and calorie-boosting supplements. EmerAid IC Piscivore is our first line of defense for animals suffering from malnutrition.

Because of his size and debilitation, he was given EmerAid IC Piscivore again for breakfast the next day and then was started on a fish gruel. Whole fish was introduced into his diet, but he was slow to pick up the technique of eating these whole fish. Eventually, he perfected his eating habits and grew to weigh 68 pounds. He was released on Santa Cruz Island on January 5, 2020.