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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center releases two Harp Seals

 The University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC) released two harp seals that were rehabilitated at the center. '

The release took place June 10, 2009 at Granite Point in Biddeford. MARC is a unit of UNE's Marine Science Education and Research Center.

The two seals listed by their identification numbers are:

"Nona"
MARC 09-006 Pg
Harp Seal
Phoca groenlandica
Arrival Date: 4/2/2009
Stranded At: Herman Island, Phippsburg, ME
Rescued by: Maine Department of Marine Resources
Gender: Female
Age: Yearling (1-2 yrs.)
Admit Weight: 63 lbs. (28.85 kg)
Admit Length: 104 cm
Reason for Rehabilitation:
Hypernatremia (elevated blood sodium levels), Stress Alopecia 
 
"Doris"
MARC 09-002 Pg
Harp Seal
Phoca groenlandica
Arrival Date: 3/18/2009
Strand Date: 3/18/2009
Stranded At: Edgecomb, ME
Rescued by: Maine Department of Marine Resources
Gender: Female
Age: Yearling (1-2 yrs.)
Reason for Rehabilitation:
Dehydration, Stress Alopecia
 
Each of these harp seals was fitted with a satellite tag that will allow MARC to follow its location as it makes its way north.  These satellite tags are provided by the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation and part of a joint collaboration of satellite tracking of Marine Mammals between UNE/MARC, Riverhead Foundation, and Whalenet.

The information gathered from these two harp seals will join other satellite tracking data to help us better understand the movement of marine mammals in the Northeast region.  

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.