The SeaWorld Animal Rescue and Rehab Program rescued an abandoned and sick harbor seal pup from the Children’s Pool in La Jolla on Feb. 17. “This animal had been on the beach and didn’t seem to have mom anywhere around,” said Kelly Terry, a SeaWorld public relations manager. After keeping a close eye on the struggling pup, rescuers decided to go in and take the seal back to SeaWorld for testing. “He was in OK body condition but he was definitely dehydrated and he hadn’t nursed in a while,” said Dr. Hendrik Nollens, a SeaWorld staff veterinarian. “His initial blood work showed he had a very acute infection. His parameters came back pretty degenerate.” This time of year marks the beginning of pupping season and it’s not uncommon for baby seals to get separated from their mothers for short periods of time. In this case, it became clear the mother wasn’t coming back. The male pup was so young that he still hasn’t had enough time to learn how to survive on his own. For now, he’s getting around-the-clock care, including bottle feeding, which he caught onto quickly. “We’ll gradually transition him to fish,” Nollens said. “Once he has proven he can catch live fish and can maintain his weight and is fully off of medication then we return him [to the ocean].” The pup weighed in at 16.5 pounds when he arrived at SeaWorld, about 1.5 pounds less than normal. In his first few days under care he gained 10 percent body fat, Nollens said. SeaWorld officials in San Diego County rescue an average of 200 to 400 animals per year. They often work closely with lifeguards in monitoring animal safety situations along the coast. Baby seals might look cute and cuddly but the public should not touch them under any circumstance, SeaWorld officlas said. Seals can carry infectious diseases and human handling can potentially disrupt relationships within the pack. If you think a marine mammal is in serious danger, call the stranded animal hotline at (800) 541-7325.