Mitigating the Effects of Maternal Loss on Harbour Seal Pups in Captive Care.

Stranded newborn "orphan" harbour seal pups entering captive care are often maintained for some weeks in isolation, mainly as a precaution against the spread of infection. However, this practice raises concerns for the welfare and normal socialisation of pups, who normally spend their first post-natal weeks close to their mothers and other seals. The present study recorded and described the behaviour of six paired orphan pups in rehabilitation up to about five weeks of age, provided with free access to water and haul-out areas.