The Alaska SeaLife Center's newest rescues include a harbor seal pup named Cerulean, found emaciated with flipper injuries, and a 4-month-old sea otter pup found with its dying mother.
On Sept. 7, a baby sea otter was found with his dying mother on a remote beach near Happy Valley, south of Ninilchik, only accessible by ATV.
Jane Belovarac is the wildlife response curator at the center – the only facility in the state which rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals. Belovarac said the seal pup may have been separated from his mother and developed an illness that stunted his growth.Belovarac said in the center’s care, the young harbor seal quickly took to eating fish on his own. But the team is still providing stabilizing treatments and monitoring him to understand the severity of his conditions.
The original observers were able to return to the remote site the next day and confirm that the mother had died.