Bright and alert, he has settled into his new place in quarantine after his transfer from Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre.
Big Deal
Patient Record
Species: Harbour Seal
Patient ID: PV2353
Admitted on: 2023/08/10
Collection Site: Patricia Bay
Reason for Admission: Emaciated, Lethargic, Underweight
Weight at Admission: 10.9 kg
Patient Status: in care
Time in Care: 45 days (1 month, 2 weeks, 1 day)
Current Habitat: Stickleback Pool
This is a large pre-release pool that houses many patients. Animals that have already demonstrated that they can eat fish on their own are placed in a larger pool like this where they can learn how to compete for fish and socialize with other harbour seals.
Also in Stickleback Pool with Big Deal:Thief Islet, Wild & Woolly, Fin Rock, Big Bay, Eleanor Point, Henry Island Reefs
Transfer History
Received from: IWNCC
Original Admission: 2023/07/29
Weight at Admission: 7.5 kg
Mode of Transport: Harbour Air
Patient Progress
Fish School Big Deal is now in fish school. He is currently learning how to eat fish on his own. All pups are initially hand-fed, but later fish is just thrown into their tub to give them an opportunity to dive for, grab and swallow the fish whole, head first. It's something all pups need to learn, and it requires quite some skill. Eventually, Big Deal will eat entirely on his own at which point he will graduate from fish school.
Patient Updates
He is now out of quarantine and has started weaning!
He has finished weaning and is now in fish school!