West Islip Students Release Adopted Seal Into Water

WEST ISLIP, NY — A rescued seal who was nursed back to health has returned to the wild, thanks to West Islip students.

Manetuck Elementary School students, staff and their families gathered at Robert Moses State Park on Tuesday, as their adopted seal, Williams, was released back into the water.

The seal, who was named after the school's principal Vanessa Williams, was rescued in Montauk on April 24 and was found entangled in netting, the West Islip School district said.

Weighing 90 pounds, he was taken to New York Marine Rescue Center in Riverhead, a nonprofit organization.

Thanks to the efforts of the students of Manteuck and the school’s community service club, more than $5,000 was raised to help Williams rehabilitate back to health.

The three students who raised the most money helped to open Williams’ enclosure as he made his back to the Long Island waters.

According to a press release, the school has been working with the New York Marine Rescue Center for the past 17 years, raising more than $50,000 for the organization.