Back in the wild... seals rescued by Co Down aquarium are returned to the sea after weeks of medical treatment, rehabilitation and swimming lessons
THE first seals of the season have been released back into the wild after being rescued by staff at Exploris Aquarium’s sanctuary.
Hans and Albert made a splash at Ballintoy Harbour on Co Antrim’s north coast during low tide yesterday morning following an arduous rehabilitation process.
“Both seals now weigh over 40kg and have produced a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm during the winter months,” a spokesperson for the Co Down aquarium said.
“We anticipate that they will reach their full adult weight of around 300kg.”
The seals have been micro-chipped to allow rescue workers to monitor their progress.
Peter Williams, who is part of a specialist team that cared for the helpless pups, said staff are used to dealing with an influx of seals at this time of year.
“Unfortunately it’s common for them to be abandoned by their mothers but malicious hu- man activity is also a reason so many end up in our care,” he said.
“Sometimes they are attacked by dogs or they just get knocked about in choppy waters.”
The senior aquarist explained that following initial health checks, a period of quarantine and an introduction to fish soup, the seals must learn to fend for themselves if they are to survive.
“Once they gain enough weight — and some teeth — they are taken to our twofoot-deep nursery pond to learn how to swim and eat whole fish,” he said.
“Eventually they are moved to our larger outdoor pre-release pool where they gain strength, master co-ordination and compete for food.”
Hans and Albert are common seals and first met in the nursery pond in September after being rescued just one month apart.
Albert was grossly underweight and Hans had suffered a nasty gash on his left jaw. But following extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, they were fit for release back into the wild.
“We try and release them in the area from which they were rescued, but sometimes it’s within their interests to be freed in a different location,” Mr Williams added.
Assistant aquarist Amy Robinson, who saw off Hans and Albert as they returned to their natural habitat, hopes they will integrate into existing grey seal colonies in the area.
“We hope they stay together, that’s why we try and give them a friend,” she said.
“But if they choose a life of solitude that’s up to them.”
Three grey seals, including Lord Kelvin and Galileo who were badly injured during October’s storm Ophelia, are due to be released on Monday.