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Una Foca Bebe Nace en el Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
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Seal Pup Born at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park Fort Walton Beach, FL—A wide-eyed, whiskered harbor seal pup is melting hearts as the newest member of the Gulfarium family. "He is so precious," exclaims park visitor Caitlyn Shupert upon first glance. "How could you not love that? I just want to cuddle him!" The male pup, named Ollie, was born to 23-year-old Priscilla on the evening of April 27, 2016, weighing close to 30 pounds. He was immediately alert, bonding with his mom, nursing, and swimming soon after. A month later, he has doubled in weight and will soon learn to eat fish on his own. "Ollie is energetic and curious and will often join Priscilla on deck during feeds, enabling us to closely monitor his health and development," says Bryan Martin, Gulfarium's supervisor of animal training. The gestation period of a harbor seal is nine to eleven months and females give birth to one pup at a time. The pup nurses for a period of four to six weeks from two mammary glands on the lower abdomen of its mother. During the nursing period, female harbor seals are considered to be attentive, affectionate mothers. Priscilla will nose the pup often and stay within a close distance. "Priscilla has proven to be an excellent mother," says Martin. "She often checks on him, cradles him, and guides him through the water as he learns to swim around his environment." Gulfarium visitors can view Ollie in the Seal Harbor exhibit throughout the day and may catch him sleeping, nursing, or playing in the water alongside the other seals. |