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Loading...Baby Seal Cries for Missing Mama: Couple Rescues Him By Kayak
Written by Lynne Wheeler of British Columbia, Canada
It was a hot summer evening and I was working in my garden, when I heard a cry that sounded like a little kid calling “Ma! Ma!” After some investigation, I realized it was coming from the ocean.
Hauling out my kayak, I paddled out to find the source. The cutest little baby seal came up right beside my boat and called again, looking at me with big puppy eyes.
“Where’s your mom?” I asked, as he dipped beneath the surface. He came up again and nudged my hand, then swam beneath my kayak, bumping the hull underneath my boat and crying plaintively, even under water. He kept coming up, crying and bumping the boat, obviously very hungry. I hung out for awhile, and then decided to go back to the garden, hoping his mom would come back soon to feed him. I finally fell asleep that night to the sound of his pitiful cries.
I Drifted On the Sea With Him
The next evening, I came home only to find the little tyke still hanging out in the ocean in front of my house, crying pitifully. Once again, I paddled out, only to have him swimming up, touching my hand, bumping the boat and crying pitifully for his mother. I drifted out there on the sea, talking gently with him, feeling helpless because I didn’t know what to do with him. I had heard that one should leave baby seals alone, but on the third day when he was still cryng, I called the SPCA and eventually got connected with the Vancouver Aquarium. Once they realized that the mother seal was not coming back, they asked if I thought I could catch the baby seal. They told me that he likely would not survive another day. I thought I could catch him, considering he was so friendly and desperate for company and food.
I enlisted the help of my husband, and we paddled out in a canoe. Sure enough, the little guy came up right away to touch my hand. We were ready with a large fish net, and tried to dip it underneath him to catch him. It took three tries before we were successful in pulling him aboard. Baby seals may be tiny, but they are heavy! I got him loaded into a dog crate and drove into town where I met a volunteer who took him to the Vancouver Aquarium. I never did find out how he made out, but I like to think he is happy and free somewhere in the Strait of Georgia. More marine life protection photos here.
This story has been brought to you by The Great Animal Rescue Chase, the place where everyday animal heroes come to play.
- I am lucky enough to live and work by the sea.
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Read more: great animal rescue chase, seal rescue
Photo Credit: © Snamfoto | Dreamstime.com
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What a beautiful reunion-TY for sharing
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382 comments
+ add your ownHope more are rescued
poor little baby!!! thnx for save her!!!!!
Hope he is happy now
Thank you for saving this pup. If this occurs again, please do not wait 3 days. Hopefully, he survived; was released back into the ocean.
You did the right thing by leaving him thinking mom would come back, but it had to be so hard hearing him cry. Great that you rescued him. Thank you and your husband.
sweet little guy-thanks for helping him!
poor thing
Thank you for catching him and bringing him to people who would help. I wonder what happened to his mother and if he is okay. You gave him the best chance he could have.
Great job. Another set of angels on earth for the animals.
Happy ending....I don't think I would have waited 3 days. Strong work.
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