2 Rescued Ringed Seals Find Permanent Home At SeaWorld San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — Two rescued ringed seals from Alaska have arrived at SeaWorld San Diego, where they will soon be on display at the park's Wild Arctic exhibit, officials announced Monday.

The seals, named Mavsaq and Taku, were rescued in separate incidents and rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center before being transferred to SeaWorld. Both were determined to be unable to survive in the wild.

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Mavsaq was found outside his natural habitat on an oilfield in Alaska's Beaufort Sea in December 2025. Taku was found abandoned and lethargic on a rusty pipe along the rocky shore of Dutch Harbor in 2018.

The two seals will join Natchek, a ringed seal that has lived at SeaWorld San Diego since 1996. Natchek was rescued as an abandoned 3-month-old pup in Alaska and has since participated in scientific research, including a study of ringed seal hearing abilities.

"We are very pleased with their adjustment so far," said Eric Otjen, SeaWorld San Diego's vice president of zoological operations. "Our team has the expertise and decades of experience with this species and is excited to introduce these ringed seals to our resident ringed seal."

SeaWorld San Diego and the Alaska SeaLife Center are the only two facilities in North America where the public can see ringed seals, according to park officials.

Ringed seals are the smallest and most common Arctic seals, named for the light-colored rings on their backs. The Arctic subspecies are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Visitors will soon be able to see Mavsaq and Taku at select times throughout the day at the Wild Arctic exhibit, officials said.