An adorable sea creature that became lost in New Haven, Connecticut, is now safe and recovering from its ordeal.
Officers with the New Haven Police Department recently found a baby seal wandering the streets with a flipper that appeared to be broken, WKRC reported on Tuesday.
In a social media post on Sunday, the department shared a photo of the seal in the cold and wet street as it lay next to one of the agency’s vehicles.
“Meet the newest addition to the department!” the agency’s post read.
The animal, a male gray seal, was found far away from its habitat and close to famous pizza restaurants, according to USA Today.
Officer Christian Bruckhart said, “We assumed he was here to try the clam pizza but I can’t confirm that, we’re just happy he’s safe.”
The seal was eventually transferred to the Mystic Aquarium to undergo rehabilitation, and Bruckhart later said he is “recuperating.”
Video footage shows the moment someone tries to comfort the seal as it lay in the snow. “Oh, you are so precious,” the person tells the seal who makes whimpering sounds:
In a press release, Dr. Allison Tuttle, Mystic Aquarium’s Chief Zoological Officer, said, “Mystic Aquarium is pleased to have rescued this misdirected young seal in need of help, and looks forward to hopefully returning the seal back to the ocean in the months ahead.”
“We are proud to provide marine mammal response, rescue, and rehabilitation for the state of Connecticut, and help marine animals in need,” Tuttle added.
The seal was also reportedly seen in the Branford area days before being rescued, and the aquarium’s animal rescue technician Francesca Battaglia told Today her team relocated him to a safe beach, but he was later found in New Haven.
She explained it was possible he was following his “natural instincts” before getting lost, adding it is rare for a seal to venture into a city.
When he was rescued, the seal was lethargic, dehydrated, and several pounds underweight. However, he is now undergoing treatment to get him back to full health.
Adult male gray seals can grow to be up to 750 pounds, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
“On land, seals move in caterpillar fashion alternately shifting weight from their chest to their pelvic region, or they roll to their destination. They appear quite clumsy and slow but can overtake a running human over a short distance,” the site reads.
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