Shelby and her pup as a newborn. Photo by Terri Haines, courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific.
The first harbor seal pup to be born at the Aquarium of the Pacific is spending its final days behind the scenes as it prepares to join the institution’s other animals inside the Aquarium’s Seal and Sea Lion Habitat Tuesday morning. The pup was born on April 26, 2012 and has been secluded with its mother for bonding and nursing before being introduced to its new permanent home.
Shelby and Troy, two of the Aquarium’s harbor seals, are the new pup’s parents. Though most seals begin giving birth at around age four or five, Shelby is 16 years-old and this is her first. Troy came to the Aquarium in 2007 and is the exhibit’s only male harbor seal.
When the pup was born, Aquarium staff was cautiously optimistic as seal pups are most at risk in the first few weeks of life. However, officials now say that the female pup has gained more than 30 pounds since birth and was recently introduced to solid foods as well as other behaviors that will help her acclimate to her new environment.
A city-wide contest was held to decide on her name, which was voted on by Long Beach councilmembers and will also be announced tomorrow, along with a new REEL Recycling Display where visitors can now safely dispose of their used fishing line.
The new pup will be permanently on display in the Aquarium’s Seal and Sea Lion Habitat as of 9AM on Tuesday August 21.