Mystic Aquarium
Marine Animal Rescue team sends Poppy back home
Text and photos by
Will Collette
Delayed
by this morning’s traffic snarl (a truck roll-over on I-95), the Mystic
Aquarium team arrived at Charlestown’s Blue Shutters Beach late, unlike their
usual punctual, well-drilled routine and struggled to get set up to release
Poppy, a one year old female harbor seal, back into the ocean.
Poppy
had been found near Provincetown last March with a severe head wound, other
injuries and dehydration and was taken to Mystic for healing before release.
But
she healed quickly and from where I stood, looked perky and healthy.
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| Poppy did not want to leave the kennel |
Apparently
because of the traffic delay, the team got ready to release her without the
usual small presentation via loud speaker about the animal and the whole rescue
program and simply popped open the door to her travel kennel.
But
Poppy was not interested in going. I’ve seen over a dozen seals get returned to
the wild, but Poppy takes the prize – so far – for being the most unwilling to
go. After coaxing failed, the team members tipped her kennel to give her the
hint that it was time to go.
Nah-Uh.
So they tipped the kennel over even further till finally Poppy got the hint
with a pretty good assist from gravity.
But
once she was free of the kennel, to the delight of the nice sized beach crowd,
Poppy made a prompt beeline for the water. She let a wave wash over her and
then pushed on through the surf and out to sea. The crowd clapped and cheered.
About
100 yards out, she popped her head up to look back and then she was gone.
The Mystic Aquarium does good work. I can’t find the words to
convey how much I admire their sea animal rescue program. Cathy and I joined the Aquarium, largely on the merits of
this program. I’d urge you to think about doing it, too.
They have a fund-raiser coming up soon on June 21 for the benefit
of this program. Click
here for more information.
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| One last look back |