Rescued Blind Seal Gives Birth to Her Very First Pup at Brookfield Zoo
The Brookfield Zoo in Chicago shared some happy news over the weekend, with the announcement that their blind rescue grey seal named Georgette (Nickname, 'Georgie') has given birth to her first pup!
Georgie arrived at Brookfield Zoo in 2020 after she was rescued from an island in Georgetown, Maine, near the Atlantic Ocean in 2013. The first time mama is fully blind in the left eye and functionally blind in her right eye so she isn't able to be released into the wild. Her tiny baby weighed nearly 35 pounds at birth!
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The Brookfield Zoo posted on Instagram, in part, "Georgie is proving to be a very attentive mother, and is able to locate her pup by his distinct smell and call! The pup is successfully nursing and has already gained 15 pounds since birth. He has also been introduced to a pool that has been modified to allow him easy access out when he’s not practicing his swimming skills.."
Awwww!
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The zoo also explained that the new baby's dad was also stranded in the wild and deemed unreleasable when he was only a few months old. Since arriving at Brookfield Zoo in 2018, he has sired three pups.
What a wonderful story from the Brookfield Zoo! We can't wait to watch this sweet baby grow up and start playing and swimming!
Fun Facts About Baby Grey Seals
Georgie's new baby is right on target for his weight, because Grey seal pups are born weighing around 35 to 40 pounds on average. This makes them one of the largest species of seal pups at birth.
Grey seal pups are born with a fluffy white coat called lanugo, which helps them stay warm in their first few weeks of life. After they grow their coats start to molt and then they resemble adult grey seals with a smooth, grey coat.
Grey seal pups nurse from their mamas for about three to four weeks, and when they are weaned they transition to eating solid food and also learn to hunt. Grey seals eat fish like sand eels, squid, hake, whiting and the occasional sea bird.
Grey seal pups love to play and can often be seen engaging in playful behaviors such as splashing in the water, wrestling with other pups, and exploring the world around them.
The Brookfield Zoo also shared that "Currently, there are only 22 grey seals in seven accredited U.S. zoos and aquariums. Brookfield Zoo has the largest group with six individuals."
If you would like more information about the Brookfield Zoo and their latest addition, you can visit their website here.
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