A female vituline seal [harbour seal] pup weighing 11,6 kilos was born at the Genoa Aquarium in the early hours of Sunday 11th July. The birth was natural and took place on land. Mother and pup are said to be doing well and at the moment are living in a special “nursery” aquarium.
They are being closely monitored by staff as seal mothers sometimes fail to bond with and nurse their pups.
However, Tethy, the pup’s 17-year-old mother, is unlikely to have this problem as the unnamed pup is her fifth. Lactation will continue for about a month, at the end of which the pup’s weight will have doubled. Only then will visitors be able to see her.
Genoa Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Italy and the second largest in Europe.
The pup has not yet been named. Can you think of a name for her?
