Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center's release of harbor seal adopted by 7-year-old captures media's attention

The UNE Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center on Nov. 19, 2010 got assistance from seven-year-old Risa Sanders with the release of a harbor seal that she adopted in lieu of a birthday present. NECN, WCSH6, WMTW8, the Portland Press Herald and YorkWeekly covered the event. 

Risa first encountered the seal, Garland, during a tour of MARC. When it came time to celebrate her birthday a few weeks ago, she asked her parents if she could adopt the harbor seal.

Because of her generosity, the center decided to let Risa be a big part of Garland's release back to the ocean. She opened the cage and watched as Garland and another seal being released on the beach in Biddeford find their way out to sea. Watch the NECN video.

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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.