New York Marine Rescue Center

PEARL - Pearl, a young gray seal yearling, was first found stranded along the Connecticut shoreline during the winter of 2025. After receiving care, she was successfully released in April 2025, but her journey was far from over. In July 2025, Pearl restranded in Montauk, New York, severely malnourished and had evidence of trauma to her back leaving a large deep gash. She was rescued by the New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC), where further evaluation revealed that she has a spinal deformity that would prevent her from surviving in the wild. In collaboration with NOAA, Pearl was deemed non-releasable. While this outcome is never easy, it opens the door to a new chapter for Pearl. NYMRC is now working to find her a permanent home at an accredited aquarium, where she will receive the specialized care, she needs and have the opportunity to live alongside other non-releasable animals. We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved in Pearl’s rescue and care, and we look forward to sharing updates on where she will begin her next chapter.