My Awesome Seal Encounter at the Mystic Aquarium!!!
This Friday, I participated in the "Seals Up Close" program at the Mystic Aquarium, in Mystic CT. It was very well organized, the staff was very friendly, and the Seals were happy, bouncy, cute, and well cared for. I learned a lot, and I highly recommend attending if you are interested in Seals. We also saw Pearl's Pup!!
First, we met a staff member by the Information Booth, where she led us into a room to give us an overview and safety talk. There were lockers available for us to place any personal belongings in, with a key that we could keep around our necks and tucked in a shirt. Mystic does have strict program rules that have to be followed for the safety of the participants, Trainers, and the Seals. You must be able to fulfill all requirements that the Mystic Aquarium advertises, or you will not be able to attend. I always felt that the Mystic Aquarium had everybody's safety in mind, both people and cute Seals (all Seals are cute).
After our brief, we washed our hands and stepped into a shoe-disinfectant. We were walked into the area where the Marine Mammals are kept, past the Belugas, and into a separate Seal living area that is not on public display. We met the Trainers, and waited outside of the Seal living area while the Trainers set up and got the Seals ready to introduce them to us. While waiting, we were able to see the Seal living area. It was a huge pool, probably slightly bigger than the area where the Seals can be seen by the public at the Aquarium. It also had a beach that they can bounce on, with more than enough area for the Seals to haul themselves out when they wanted to. It was at that time that we were shown Pearl and her Pup swimming!! He was already bigger than I thought, and looked very happy. We were told that he looks like his Father, but acts like Pearl.
We were brought into the Seal living area, and asked to sit on a long artificial rock. The Trainers brought up each Seal to us in a very safe and controlled manner. From what I understand, our visit was a bit different than normal. We were told that usually two Seals were brought out for an encounter, but that day were were going to see three! I am not sure why this was - it could be because we were in a small group, it could be because they wanted training time with an additional Seal, or it could have been a different reason.
The first Seal that we met was Coral. She was rescued from a beach while she was suffering from an infection on her left flipper, and could be not be released because her flipper had to be amputated. Her Trainer asked her up to sit in front of us so that we could learn about her.
We were then given the opportunity to do Trainer commands with Coral. While I say they were "commands" I believe that the Trainers stated that the session interaction was voluntary. This is much like I heard at The Maritime Aquarium At Norwalk where the Trainers emphasize that all training is done with the agreement of the Seals, and always with positive rewards. One of the participants was able to ask Coral to blow bubbles underwater. The second participant was able to ask Coral to turn around in circles. I was able to ask Coral to swim on her back like a Sea Otter.
After we met Coral, we met Tori, short for Victoria. She, like all of the other Seals we met, were rescued due to illness. Tori's illness resulted in her losing an eye, so she could not be released. We were allowed to touch her fur! It felt like touching a shorthair dog who had thick fur but was wet. Not like a longhaired dog because the Seals' fur was not long.
We met the third Seal. Again, I get the impression that normally two Seals are visited during an encounter, but we were able to meet a third for this encounter. We met Bristol. She was also a rescued Seal who could not be released. If you ever wondered why some Seals have bare squares on them, it is because they had their fur shaved before a medical procedure. After they molt and get new fur, the bare patches will disappear and be replaced by fur. I did not know that Seals molted, and will be following up with a post on this in the future. We were allowed to touch one of Bristol's shaved areas. It felt very much like leather, and seemed firm.
We were also able to touch her nails, which felt like dog nails. Seals really are sea doggos!
We were also given the opportunity to feed Bristol! We fed her Herring, a cube that resembled jello, and another fish that I cannot remember. All of the fish were restaurant-grade quality and were purchased from environmentally-friendly and sustainable fish farming practices.
I learned a lot about Seals during this encounter, more than I wrote above. We were encouraged to ask questions. One of the participants asked if Seals learn from each other. I learned that while Harbor Seal Pups learn a lot from their Moms, once they are on their own Harbor Seals do not seem to learn by watching other Seals. Sea Lions, however, do seem to learn from each other. Also, all of the Seals have their own distinct personalities. They are not just "generic Seals." From what we were told about each of the Seals' personalities, each ranges in personality from generally loafy to spontaneously excitable. Another participant asked what their tails were for, the subject of one of my past posts. The Trainers agreed that the tails didn't seem to be useful, but that the Seals can move them.
The trainers and the Seals really interacted well together. All of the Seals seemed healthy and happy. I also noticed the Seals had a nice open area to swim and bounce on the beach. If you have never seen a Seal bounce up close, it is beautiful.
Although I have been close to other Seals at different aquariums, there is nothing like actually being as close as you get in this encounter. I highly recommend participating in a "Seals Up Close" encounter! Mystic Aquarium also has many other animal encounters, so be sure to check those out. Personally I am looking forward to a Sea Lion encounter in the future!
First, we met a staff member by the Information Booth, where she led us into a room to give us an overview and safety talk. There were lockers available for us to place any personal belongings in, with a key that we could keep around our necks and tucked in a shirt. Mystic does have strict program rules that have to be followed for the safety of the participants, Trainers, and the Seals. You must be able to fulfill all requirements that the Mystic Aquarium advertises, or you will not be able to attend. I always felt that the Mystic Aquarium had everybody's safety in mind, both people and cute Seals (all Seals are cute).
After our brief, we washed our hands and stepped into a shoe-disinfectant. We were walked into the area where the Marine Mammals are kept, past the Belugas, and into a separate Seal living area that is not on public display. We met the Trainers, and waited outside of the Seal living area while the Trainers set up and got the Seals ready to introduce them to us. While waiting, we were able to see the Seal living area. It was a huge pool, probably slightly bigger than the area where the Seals can be seen by the public at the Aquarium. It also had a beach that they can bounce on, with more than enough area for the Seals to haul themselves out when they wanted to. It was at that time that we were shown Pearl and her Pup swimming!! He was already bigger than I thought, and looked very happy. We were told that he looks like his Father, but acts like Pearl.
We were brought into the Seal living area, and asked to sit on a long artificial rock. The Trainers brought up each Seal to us in a very safe and controlled manner. From what I understand, our visit was a bit different than normal. We were told that usually two Seals were brought out for an encounter, but that day were were going to see three! I am not sure why this was - it could be because we were in a small group, it could be because they wanted training time with an additional Seal, or it could have been a different reason.
The first Seal that we met was Coral. She was rescued from a beach while she was suffering from an infection on her left flipper, and could be not be released because her flipper had to be amputated. Her Trainer asked her up to sit in front of us so that we could learn about her.
Photograph from my encounter of us learning about Coral, taken by a professional photographer. Cameras are not allowed in the beach area. While you have to pay for the photographs, it is worth it to not have to distract yourself with taking photographs, and it makes the encounter safer for all. As you can see, Coral's left flipper was amputated due to her illness from which she was rescued.
We were then given the opportunity to do Trainer commands with Coral. While I say they were "commands" I believe that the Trainers stated that the session interaction was voluntary. This is much like I heard at The Maritime Aquarium At Norwalk where the Trainers emphasize that all training is done with the agreement of the Seals, and always with positive rewards. One of the participants was able to ask Coral to blow bubbles underwater. The second participant was able to ask Coral to turn around in circles. I was able to ask Coral to swim on her back like a Sea Otter.
Coral after being asked to swim on her back.
After we met Coral, we met Tori, short for Victoria. She, like all of the other Seals we met, were rescued due to illness. Tori's illness resulted in her losing an eye, so she could not be released. We were allowed to touch her fur! It felt like touching a shorthair dog who had thick fur but was wet. Not like a longhaired dog because the Seals' fur was not long.
We met the third Seal. Again, I get the impression that normally two Seals are visited during an encounter, but we were able to meet a third for this encounter. We met Bristol. She was also a rescued Seal who could not be released. If you ever wondered why some Seals have bare squares on them, it is because they had their fur shaved before a medical procedure. After they molt and get new fur, the bare patches will disappear and be replaced by fur. I did not know that Seals molted, and will be following up with a post on this in the future. We were allowed to touch one of Bristol's shaved areas. It felt very much like leather, and seemed firm.
Touching Bristol's bald spot - very much like leather, but cuter.
We were also able to touch her nails, which felt like dog nails. Seals really are sea doggos!
Coral's nails.
We were also given the opportunity to feed Bristol! We fed her Herring, a cube that resembled jello, and another fish that I cannot remember. All of the fish were restaurant-grade quality and were purchased from environmentally-friendly and sustainable fish farming practices.
Me feeding Bristol a piece jello-like food (circled in red).
I learned a lot about Seals during this encounter, more than I wrote above. We were encouraged to ask questions. One of the participants asked if Seals learn from each other. I learned that while Harbor Seal Pups learn a lot from their Moms, once they are on their own Harbor Seals do not seem to learn by watching other Seals. Sea Lions, however, do seem to learn from each other. Also, all of the Seals have their own distinct personalities. They are not just "generic Seals." From what we were told about each of the Seals' personalities, each ranges in personality from generally loafy to spontaneously excitable. Another participant asked what their tails were for, the subject of one of my past posts. The Trainers agreed that the tails didn't seem to be useful, but that the Seals can move them.
Bristol's tail.
The trainers and the Seals really interacted well together. All of the Seals seemed healthy and happy. I also noticed the Seals had a nice open area to swim and bounce on the beach. If you have never seen a Seal bounce up close, it is beautiful.
Although I have been close to other Seals at different aquariums, there is nothing like actually being as close as you get in this encounter. I highly recommend participating in a "Seals Up Close" encounter! Mystic Aquarium also has many other animal encounters, so be sure to check those out. Personally I am looking forward to a Sea Lion encounter in the future!
One of the other Seals in the pool - I am not sure who.
Always be yourself, unless you can be a Seal. Then be a Seal.
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