Today he has a Fifth Avenue address at the Central Park Zoo. But this wriggly little creature didn't always have it so easy. At just a few days old, Herbie the harbor seal was discovered stranded on a dock in Portland, Maine. The orphan weighed just 22 pounds, and, in spite of having eyes the size of half-dollars, was diagnosed with limited vision. The local group that rescued Herbie, Marine Animal Lifeline-an agency that saves stranded marine animals and nurtures them back to health-determined that he couldn't survive in the wild on his own. The Wildlife Conservation Society's Central Park Zoo turned out to be the perfect sanctuary.

Generous with kisses and full of wonder, Herbie now tips the scale at a healthy 60 pounds. He is thriving in his new habitat. Herbie has joined 16-year-old resident harbor seal Nicky, who is helping to show the youngster the ropes. He has also formed strong bonds with his keepers, who describe him as bright and particularly eager to learn.

Zoo Sanctuaries
While the vast majority of animals who reside in accredited zoos are born in captivity, Herbie is not the only rescued wild animal that has found a safe haven with WCS. Grizzly bears Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and Archie were saved from euthanasia and brought to the Bronx Zoo by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Considered "nuisance bears," they had been encroaching on human habitat-a problem that leads to all sorts of conflicts in places throughout the world where animals and people share their turf. At the Queens Zoo, brother and sister mountain lions, Felix and Cleo, were found as orphans after their mother was killed in Montana. And bald eagles Claire and Mel were also rescued from the wild, unable to fly due to wing injuries. Residing comfortably at the Prospect Park Zoo is Snickers, a great horned owl who suffered a wing injury after an unfortunate run-in with barbed wire.

By providing homes for these animals, WCS has given them all a second chance. In turn, they have taught all who know them how we can become better stewards of their kin in the wild.



Posted by: Kelly    Source