Mystic Aquarium Rehabilitates, Releases Young Seal

MYSTIC, CT — Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Clinic announced that it has rehabilitated and released a young gray seal named Kiki back into the ocean. Kiwi was found malnourished, thin, and suffering from an infection in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Jan. 25.

The efforts of Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Program team ensured Kiwi's recovery during her two-month stay at the clinic.

When Kiwi was brought to the Animal Rescue Clinic at Mystic Aquarium, she was just 4-5 weeks old and weighed a mere 27 pounds, according to a statement from the aquarium.

With veterinary care and quality nutrition provided by the Mystic Aquarium team, Kiwi more than doubled her weight to 63 pounds, indicating that she was healthy and ready to return to her natural habitat.

“It was amazing to witness how quickly she bounced back. Working alongside the veterinary and animal care staff, who pour their hearts into this job, and then seeing firsthand the recovery of these stranded seals... it really is the best part of the job,” Alexandra Cojocaru, Animal Rescue Technician, said in a statement.

Kiwi's return to the ocean was celebrated by a crowd of onlookers at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Despite initial hesitation, Kiwi eventually exited her crate and made her way toward the water. The young seal swam off into the cold Atlantic waters, popping her head out of the water to the cheers of onlookers.

Sarah Callan, Manager of the Animal Rescue Program, expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to Kiwi's successful rehabilitation. "It was great to see everyone from the community come out to join us today in celebrating this seal going back to her ocean home. People may have noticed that she dons a satellite tag on her back that will help us collect valuable data on her movements to learn more about the gray seal population in our region, and we look forward to seeing where she goes!"