A male harbor seal that was partially paralyzed after suffering lacerations on its neck and puncture wounds on its back has been rehabilitated at a Jersey Shore marine rescue and will soon make his way to an aquarium.
The seal was found on Valentine’s Day in Deal, New Jersey — about 50 miles north of Long Beach Island. MMSC took the seal back to their headquarters in Brigantine for treatment.
Because of the injuries, the seal has partial paralysis in its rear flipper, meaning the seal will not be able to live in the wild.
According to Bob Schoelkopf, founding director of the MMSC, it would be impossible for the seal to hunt for food.
After spending seven months at the MMSC, the seal be relocated Wednesday to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach. The aquarium already houses four other male harbor seals.
