Blind Harbor Seal Pup Rescued In Palos Verdes Moving To Forever Home

PALOS VERDES, CA — When a newborn harbor seal with his umbilical cord still attached washed up on the shore in Palos Verdes last spring, the rescue team at the Marine Mammal Care Center began a transformative journey.

The rescue team at the Marine Mammal Care Center met Elmer the harbor seal pup on the beach in April 2023 when he was just days old and was left all alone without his mother in sight. Since his rescue, however, Elmer has gained strength and has grown healthy enough to move out of the rescue facility.

Now that Elmer is a bit more grown up, he will be moving to his new home at Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego. In this home, Elmer will join two other visually impaired harbor seals, Gracie and Billy.

"He was found starving and alone on the beach without his mother at just a few days old, but look at him now," the Marina Mammal Care Center said.

After months of recovery and monitoring, MMCC veterinarians noticed that though he was recovering well, Elmer had strange habits that were different from other pups his age. According to MMCC CEO John Warner, the care center's veterinary experts discovered Elmer developed bilateral cataracts, which rendered him blind in both eyes.

Newborn pups are extremely vulnerable to health and nutrition issues, and since Elmer was separated from his mother so early with the umbilical cord still attached to him, that posed a unique risk to his health, according to MMCC hospital director Doctor Lauren Palmer.

Since this discovery, partners at the NOAA led a search to find a permanent home and landed at Bahia Resort, where he can continue to receive the specialized care he needs. The now almost 1-year-old harbor seal pup will live out his days in a large outdoor pool with rocks and alcoves to climb on.

"Once he arrived, Elmer explored every rock and enrichment item the Bahia veterinary team had set out for him," the MMCC said.

Veterinarians also said Elmer has already bonded with his new harbor-seal pen-mates at the San Diego hotel.

Officials at the Marine Mammal Care Center thanked everybody who tuned in to Elmer's story throughout his recovery and donated to ensure he had access to life-saving support. To donate to support the treatment of other patients under the facility's care visit the organization's website.

"Although it was hard to say goodbye to Elmer here at our hospital, you should feel proud knowing you’re the reason he has a second chance at life and will be able to enjoy his new home and the company of other blind harbor seals for many years to come," the MMC said.