For Easter- A Second Chance at Life

Press Release

Hampton Bays, NY- To a crowd of 120 people, selected members of the public opened the cages of the seals who skirted from their carrying crates into Shinnecock Bay for a second chance at life. The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation released a harbor seal and a harp seal today at noon at the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays. Families who heard about the release on the radio or read about it in their e-mails came with bottles of bleach in hand as part of the Foundation’s monthly wish list program.

Many attendees at the event had traveled quite a distance to get there. One visitor came from Las Vegas and another family came from upstate NY. Both were visiting relatives in the area for the Easter holiday and were happy for this unexpected excitement on their trips. “It was great to learn that people came not only from all over Long Island and other states, but that they also came for different reasons. Some had been to releases before, some had adopted an animal through the Foundation in the past and wanted to have the whole experience, and others heard it on the radio and came out of curiosity,” stated one Riverhead Foundation volunteer.

“Venkman,” the male harbor seal, who was treated at the Riverhead Foundation’s animal hospital for dehydration and a body wound, was released with a satellite tracking tag. “Satellite tracking tags allow us to learn about the species general movements and also whether or not rehabilitation was successful,” stated Robert DiGiovanni, Jr. Foundation Director/Senior Biologist. “Venkman’s” whereabouts can be tracked on the Riverhead Foundation’s website www.riverheadfoundation.org.

The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization that operates the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program in New York State. Last year the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation rescued over 150 seals. In addition, we currently have fourteen seals and eight sea turtles in our hospital! You can sponsor a seal by calling 631-369-9840, and donating today. For information about the Riverhead Foundation, to adopt an animal or to become a member, please visit us on the web at www.riverheadfoundation.org, or call us at 631-369-9840.

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