MYSTIC, Conn. — The Mystic Aquarium took in a “severely dehydrated, underweight” seal from the banks of the Providence River for treatment, according to a spokesperson Tuesday.
Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program, or ARP, had been monitoring the one-year-old female hooded seal since it was reported in Watch Hill, R.I. on Aug. 29, the spokesperson said. The seal, often found in Arctic and North Atlantic waters, was seen multiple times in Westerly, R.I. and Providence, R.I.
Onlookers spotted the seal along the riverbanks Friday, allegedly ignoring warnings to keep their distance. They began harassing and attempting to interact with it. The spokesperson said this prompted the seal to “exhibit stress-related behaviors, such as ingesting rocks and gravel.”…