Detroit Zoo seals the deal on another rescue

Grey seal Georgie joins other rescued seals at Arctic Ring of Life

ROYAL OAK, Mich.Things are looking a little less grey for a seal that has arrived from the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center at the University of New England to her new, permanent home at the Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life.

The female grey seal pup – estimated to be less than a year old – was found stranded on the coast of Georgetown, Maine, by Marine Mammals of Maine. She was deemed non-releasable to the wild by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) due to severely compromised eyesight.

The seal has been named Georgie after the Maine coastal city where she was found. Weighing only 87 pounds at the time of her arrival in June, Georgie is thriving under the Zoo's care and now weighs about 140 pounds. She joins grey seal Kiinaq, harp seal Pequot and harbor seals Sidney and Freita, all of which were rescued.

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"Since Georgie cannot be returned to her natural wild habitat, we are happy to provide her sanctuary at the Detroit Zoo," said Robert Lessnau, Detroit Zoological Society Curator of Mammals. "The Arctic Ring of Life is an amazing habitat and we think she'll do quite well here with our other rescued seals."

Georgie's rescue was the first supported by the newly established Kalter/Lezotte Fund for Wildlife Rescue to facilitate the rescue of animals with the intent to provide sanctuary at the Detroit Zoo. To contribute to the fund, make a check payable to Detroit Zoological Society and send it to Fund for Wildlife Rescue, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067, or call (248) 336-5704.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic habitats, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of 10 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak, Mich. The Detroit Zoo is open 362 days a year, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day after Labor Day through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $14 for adults 15 to 61, $12 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $9 for children 2 to 14 (children under 2 are free). The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.