In Ireland, an orphaned seal pup named Ili Pika was brought to Seal Rescue Ireland.
She was found in a place with lots of machines and noise—an oyster farm—which probably made her mother leave.
The rescue team was there to help and make sure she had a safe place to get better.
The Wetsuit Mom
Ili Pika was scared and suckling at the window, a sign that she was looking for her mama seal.
To comfort her, the team gave her something special—a ‘wetsuit mom,’ made out of recycled wetsuits shaped like a mother seal.
Her Very Own Tub
Ili Pika was cuddling her wetsuit mom in her bathtub.
But as Ili Pika grew, she became really attached to her place. She turned the bathtub into her little world.
“When I was trying to clean her bathtub, she was slapping the brush, and then she would bark. The flippers were going everywhere. She would spit at you. She would slap her belly to tell you to go away,” her caretaker said.
It’s A Good Sign
Ili Pika’s playful way of protecting her space wasn’t just cute but a good sign.
“Seeing that shows us that she’s going to compete well in the wild,” says Melanie Croce, the Executive Director of Seal Rescue Ireland.
It meant she was getting braver and learning to take care of herself, an essential survival skill.
Small Steps at a Time
As she gained weight and confidence, her caregivers thought she should meet other seals.
So, they put her in a big pool where she could be with others and learn what seals need to know to live in the wild.
Making Friends
At first, Ili Pika wasn’t sure about being around the other seals and having so much space, unlike her small pool. But soon, she began to enjoy it.
She swam with other seals, played with them, and ate together with them.
Ready for Adventure
Her feisty nature ensured she got her fair share of the fish and also helped her fit right in with the dynamics of her new watery world.
The little seal who used to stick to her pool has recovered, grown, and become stronger.
Socializing with other seals was a success, and she hit the target weight of 30 kilos – this means she’s ready to live in the ocean.
Back in the Ocean
It was a heartwarming goodbye.
“You know, you’ve been with this pup through the start of its life. And for them to finally be released back home, it’s an amazing feeling,” the caretaker said.
Seeing Ili Pika grow from a tiny, lonely pup into a happy, healthy seal ready for the ocean clearly reminds us that animals sometimes need our help to survive and thrive.
They Need Us
Ili Pika’s recovery is more than an individual success. It stands as a symbol of hope for all animals facing challenges in the wild.
Whether they’ve lost their mothers like Ili Pika or are struggling because their homes are being destroyed, these animals depend on caring people to step up and make a difference.
