Vancouver Aquarium Tells the Public That This Northern Elephant Seal is a Cow

By Helen Lee 

Vancouver, Canada - The Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) team tomorrow (Friday, May 22) will travel from Vancouver to Sooke to release “Cow”, a rescued female Northern elephant seal, into the ocean off North Sooke.

“Cow” was rescued April 6th, after calls flooded the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre (MMR) regarding a Northern elephant seal on Rainbow Beach in Esquimalt’s inner harbour. A team comprised of Aquarium staff, DFO officers and BCSPCA Wildarc animal care personnel executed the rescue plan. After being transported and admitted to MMR, Dr. Martin Haulena, Staff Veterinarian at Vancouver Aquarium, diagnosed Cow with Northern elephant seal skin disease (NESSDz) and prescribed antibiotics.

After more than six weeks of intensive care, “Cow” is now eating on her own and has gained well over 60kg during her rehabilitation. Her ulcers are healing and hair growth is returning. She now eats 14 kg of herring daily with vitamins.

The Aquarium MMR team will be releasing “Cow” off the coast of Sooke back to her natural habitat. 

DATE: Friday, May 22, 2009

About the Marine Mammal Rescue
The primary goal of the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program is to provide housing and care for ill, injured, or abandoned marine mammals and to rehabilitate them for release back into their natural habitat. If you see a marine mammal you feel needs help, keep your distance and call 604-258-SEAL (7325).

About the Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, conservation practices, education, research, and direct action. Learn more at www.vanaqua.org

To view Vancouver Aquarium's we page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-40-Vancouver_Aquarium