|
The dramatic rescue of baby seal Pintlo
Pintlo Photo: Bill Hunnewell © The Marine Mammal Center
On March 9th, at the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel, California, along the water's edge, baby Pintlo was struggling for his life.
He was malnourished and weak as the emergency rescue team from The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) of Sausalito arrived.
(Story continues from "Read More")
But before his rescuers would help, they stayed at a safe distance awaiting his mother to rescue him, but sadly she never came. He had been abandoned.
Abandonment often happens when people and/or dogs play with seal pups while the mothers are off foraging for food. When they return, the human/canine presence scares them off.
With his life hanging in the balance, baby Pintlo was safely secured in a transport carrier on the beach by TMMC's volunteers and was transported 125 miles to their state-of-the-art veterinary facilities in Sausalito.
When he arrived, the tiny guy was examined by expert veterinarians and placed in a holding pen while he stabilized under the watchful eyes of the TMMC staff.
Pintlo at the Marine Mammal Center
Photo: Bill Hunnewell © The Marine Mammal Center
Pintlo has since received extensive medical care, nurturing and plenty of food.
When he is bigger and healthier, he will be released into the sea to make a life for himself, as would have happened under his mother's care.
So who is TMMC?
With a staff of 90 and a volunteer force of 1,400 on average TMMC rescues about 600 distressed marine mammals each year and provides medical care for them in its hospital facilities.
Located in Sausalito and the Big Island of Hawaii TMMC runs the world's largest marine mammal rescue organization, and
is renowned for its scientific research.
TMMC is a godsend to marine mammals and to all of us who are concerned with the health of the ocean and the well-being of our environment.
Editor's Note:
To learn more, click here. Thank you to Giancarlo Rulli of TMMC for his assistance in telling this wonderful story.
In the next KazanToday:
A newspaper deliveryman who now delivers far more than the news.
|
