Mystic Aquarium

Over 8,000 votes were cast April 10 – 21 in Mystic Aquarium’s public naming contest for Pup 49, a female harbor seal that had her rear, left flipper amputated after suffering a life-threatening infection. Aquarium volunteers who cared for Pup 49 during her rehabilitation selected five names, all names of harbors, for public voting—Coral, Grace, Hope, Madison and Mystic—and Coral came out on top.

Mystic Aquarium was granted permission by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service to permanently care for Pup 49, a female harbor seal that had her rear, left flipper amputated after suffering a life-threatening infection. Known as Pup 49 because of her rehabilitation number, the aquarium is asking for the public’s help in giving her a new name.

For a limited time beginning Friday, March 22, an 8-month-old, female harbor seal pup will be on display at Mystic Aquarium’s Aquatic Animal Study Center after seven months of rehabilitation and a flipper amputation. Known as Pup 49 because of her rehabilitation identification number, she was admitted to Mystic Aquarium’s Seal Rescue Clinic on July 16, 2012, after being rescued by New England Aquarium 10 days earlier.

Meet some new friends, both cool and creepy, during Mystic Aquarium’s Reptile Week Saturday, April 13 through Sunday, April 21. Experience Scales & Tails, a new, hands-on reptile encounter featuring baby alligators, bearded dragons, ball pythons, jeweled lacertas and more. Participants can chat with an educator, touch a reptile, hear fun facts and get their photo taken.