A week-old seal pup spotted in distress on Bowen Island Tuesday has been taken in by rescuers, with the help of the Vancouver Police Department. The pup has been named “Canadian Bacon,” police said. They did not explain why that name was chosen. The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society requested urgent assistance from the VPD around 5 p.m. after a visitor on the island spotted the lone harbour seal pup, police said in a news release Wednesday. The animal was on the shore at Seymour Bay, near Cowan Point, and police deployed VPD Marine Unit vessel Larry Young to transport three veterinary technicians to the area, according to the release. The responders arrived at 6:50 p.m., securing the newborn female pup, which police described as having been “abandoned.” The animal was taken to VAMMR’s facility at the aquarium, where it is receiving medical treatment. Police said rescuers are “cautiously optimistic” that the pup will be able to return to the wild “in a few months.” “This operation reflects a long-standing partnership between the VPD Marine Unit and VAMMR to protect local wildlife,” the release reads. “With harbour seals currently giving birth, authorities remind the public that mothers often leave pups on shore to rest. If you spot a seal pup, please stay well back, keep dogs on a leash, and do not attempt a rescue yourself. Report sightings directly to VAMMR at 604-258-7325.”
