News

Exploris seal released into wild

A MALNOURISHED seal pup nursed back to health by the under-threat Exploris Aquarium in Co Down was released into the wild yesterday.

The pup, named Puck after a moon of Uranus, was just a few days old when he was found lying on some rocks at Belfast docks at the beginning of June.

Puck was under-fed and his mother appeared to be missing.

Staff at Exploris cared for him until he recovered and was released back into the sea.

The Ards council-run aquarium in Portaferry is facing closure after a takeover deal with a private company collapsed over staff pension arrangements. The council will decide next month on whether to close the attraction.

Tania Singleton, seal rehabilitation officer at Exploris, said Puck was only released when he reached his target weight. "In the wild when pups are weaned, they have a surplus of fat to see them through the

first few days on their own," Ms Singleton said. "We at Exploris do something similar, we only release them when they reach a target weight as this gives them time for their natural instincts to kick in."

Before he was released, Puck was micro-chipped and a patch of pink paint was applied to his coat so he could be identified in the water.

Visitors are able to view the seals' rehabilitation by visiting the centre or by watching the 'seal cam' on www.exploris.org.uk