Vancouver Aquarium Manual Rescue Centre releases five rehabilitated seals

On November 20, the Vancouver Aquarium Manual Rescue Centre released seven rehabilitated harbour seal pups into the waters of Howe Sound after receiving about three months' of care at the facility.

Five of the seals were equipped with pain-free, temporary mohawk-like satellite-linked transmitters before being released, which "will provide valuable data to the aquarium’s veterinary team regarding the seal pups’ travel patterns and progress following their release."

"I want to see how these animals do, and how they do kind of dictates what we do next year. Are there differences or changes that I want to do in their release criteria – release them at different weights? Release them in different areas?" Martin Haulena, the aquarium's staff veterinarian, told the Canadian Press.

According to ZooBorns, "In the water, the transmitters don't weigh anything, and the seals don't seem to be bothered by them at all! They aren't invasive; no part of the animal has been punctured or any pain caused. They will fall off by the time the animals molt next spring, if not before. When the animals move, the antennas point backwards, and so they don't affect the seals' ability to swim.The transmitters are the result of decades of collaboration between veterinarians, biologists, engineers, and programmers."

The pups were transported to the ocean in dog kennels. It took only a few minutes for the seals to make a beeline for the water once rescue centre staff opened their kennels.

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre posted beautiful photos of the release on Facebook.

Haulena told the Canadian Press that even after 20 years of working on rehabilitation, it's still "awesome" to witness an animal's return to the wild.

"So much work goes into these guys and they look so terrible when they come in."

Nine harbour seals remain at the rescue centre.