Five seals named Tellurium, Palladium, Neptunium and Scandium found themselves in a whole new life circumstance last week.
The young harbour seals were all rescued and treated at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. Veterinarians determined they were ready to be returned to the wild so they were brought to Porteau Provincial Marine Park for release last Thursday, Nov. 20.
The head vet at the aquarium, Dr. Martin Haulena, says the harbour seals – all named after elements on the periodic table – were brought to Porteau because there’s good seal habitat in Howe Sound. Back on Oct. 25, aquarium staff released another bunch of seals at Lions Bay, including Iridium, a seal rescued by Sofia Eguiuguren and her family in Victoria. Two seals released at Porteau were sporting funny looking high-tech devices complete with little antennas on their heads. The GPS devices are sending data back to researchers.
Haulena likes releasing seals on the shores below the Sea to Sky Highway because the area is relatively remote and natural. Howe Sound also has seal food in abundance.
It is fitting that these rehabilitated seals are named from the periodic table of elements in light of the debate currently taking place between those opposed to further industrial development in Howe Sound and the owners and managers of companies like Woodfibre LNG, Pacific Oil & Gas Ltd, Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Corp, Burnco Rock Products and the logging companies interested in harvesting a proposed new cutblock on Gambier Island, along with the group of divers who want to sink an old navy vessel in Halkett Bay on Gambier.
Both sides are turning to science to back their arguments.
The Woodfibre LNG proposal most directly relates to Squamish because the proposal is within District of Squamish boundaries. We’re connected to the other projects through the Howe Sound Forum, which has brought together MP John Weston, MLA Jordan Sturdy, all the municipal government bodies inside the Howe Sound drainage area and First Nations to discuss the future of the sound.
There’s a great deal at stake, as Howe Sound is currently enjoying a renewal. Humpback whales are visiting. Orca sightings are up in the last few years and we’ve been entertained by white-sided dolphin shows a few times in the past four years. Herring populations in Howe Sound have exploded. We also saw a record pink salmon return in August of 2013.
Iridium, Tellurium, Palladium, Neptunium and Scandium have the potential to provide both sides of the discussion with some useful science.
Swim forth and educate us, you seals.
