Mystic Aquarium Releases Seal To Water After Rehabilitation

MYSTIC, CT — Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Program has released "Cranberry," a "young, resilient seal," following her "challenging journey after stranding on Block Island," according to a statement from the aquarium.

Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Program received a report about a sick and injured seal on Block Island on June 30. First responders took the call and along with the community rescued the lethargic and malnourished seal.

Because of the seal's stranding location on the remote North Light location, it was a multi-day process to retrieve her, involving significant cooperation and collaboration, according to a statement from the aquarium.

When the six-month-old seal was brought to Mystic Aquarium, an initial examination discovered severe wound and bone infection in the hind flipper along with additional puncture wounds, a ventral abscess, and a respiratory infection.

The seal needed "intense hands-on medical care, including laser therapy, in hopes that the wound, with the support of antibiotics, would in part heal itself," the statement reads. The seal required stabilization before surgery was performed on the flipper.

"It's all hands on deck for a surgery like this, and close collaboration with a board-certified surgeon ensured the procedure's success," Molly Martony, senior veterinarian at Mystic Aquarium, said in a statement. "The infected area was completely removed, preserving the rest of the flipper for normal swimming. This surgery was a necessary intervention; we gave her a second shot at life."

Cranberry fully recovered over the next five months and was ready to return to the wild. On Wednesday at Blue Shutters Beach in Rhode Island, a crowd of over 100 showed up to watch Cranberry return to the water.

"We are immensely proud of the collaborative efforts that have gone into rehabilitating Cranberry," Sarah Callan, Mystic Aquarium animal rescue manager, said in a statement. "This release is a momentous occasion for Mystic Aquarium, Block Island responders, and the entire community."