First on record: Harbor seal born at the Milwaukee County Zoo

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee County Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a harbor seal pup, the first-ever for the Zoo, born the morning of June 8th (also World Oceans Day).

The pup was born to first-time mother, Sydney, and father, Ringo, both of whom were born in the wild.  The pup is on public exhibit, and zookeepers report its doing well (the sex is not yet know), nursing and swimming.  Sydney has been very attentive to the pup.

Sydney, just shy of her 18th birthday, was donated to the Zoo in 2005 by the Alaska SeaLife Center.  Prior to that, she came to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammals Rescue and Rehabilitation Program as an orphaned pup.  Ringo came to the Milwaukee County Zoo in 1979, and is now estimated to be 35 years old.

Wild harbor seals are found on the coasts of either side of the North Pacific and Atlantic oceans.  Harbor seal pups shed their white coat before birth and are able to swim immediately.