On the New Haven streets on Sunday, Feb. 16, residents saw an unusual sighting that gained the Elm City national attention. A 28-pound grey baby seal was found on the corner of Chapel St. and East St. before being taken to the Mystic Aquarium for further treatment.
The seal was a surprise to many, because while seals can maneuver on land, they rarely get very far inland as this one did. In fact, the seal moved this far inland in New Haven twicet. It made it to land in Connecticut four times. The seal was first spotted in Guilford on Wednesday, Feb. 12 within a resident’s backyard and was reported to the Mystic Aquarium Rescue Team and brought back into the water by the team. Then on Feb. 14, the seal was spotted at a beach in Branford where the seal returned back into the water without assistance from the rescue team. The seal was then spotted a third time on Saturday, Feb 15 which was also the first time within New Haven city limits. The seal was found nearby Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill on Water St.
The seal was rescued by the same team from the Mystic Aquarium and taken back into the water within a few hours of the encounter.
Francesca Battaglia, a member of the rescue team, told MSN, “Our first responders relocated him to a beach, so he was away from the hustle and bustle, and continued to monitor him.”.
While first responders thought at first that the seal would rejoin wildlife within Long Island Sound, it just took one day for the seal to come onto land again.
This time, the seal made it even further downtown into New Haven. A commuter called the police between 2-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16 once the seal was spotted again. The caller told police that the seal looked injured, and was moving around rapidly on the street. The Mystic rescue team was again notified by the New Haven Police Department (NHPD) which opted to transport the seal to the aquarium for further treatment.
NHPD officer and spokesperson Christian Bruckhart said in a press release, “We assumed he was here to try the clam pizza but I can’t confirm that, we’re just happy he’s safe.”
Some of the most famous pizzerias within New Haven were a few blocks from the scene. The X account of the NHPD also satirically suggested that the seal was now part of their police department.
The seal is being treated at the Mystic Aquarium where after a few weeks, it will be released back into the water again. The seal weighed 28 pounds, significantly lighter than 70-100 pounds for the average baby seal.
Sarah Callan, another member of the aquarium’s rescue team, told WFSB, “By the time we rescued him he was very lethargic. Thin body
condition. So, it was time for him to come in and provide him with the care that he needs.”
The seal has been treated for a flipper injury and been fed various vitamins and fish formula to help increase its weight. The aquarium wants the seal to gain approximately 10-20 pounds before releasing it back into the water again.
Visitors have come by to see the seal, including Justin Giulianni, one of the officers who discovered the seal when it was discovered at Chapel and East streets. Guilianelli was quoted in WRAL saying he didn’t think he’d have to chase down a baby seal or hear about it on his police scanner, but now he gets to have the memory of being the officer who helped rescue a baby seal.
A campaign is also led by the NHPD to name the seal. The current leading name is “Chappy,” which comes from Chapel St. where it was found last.
