First Sighting and Community Response
In mid-July 2023, visitors to a remote campsite near Seldovia spotted a young harbor seal with visible wounds on her face and reached out to the Alaska SeaLife Center’s wildlife response team with concerns. Unfortunately, rescue wasn’t immediately possible due to the remote location and the tides. A few days later, however, residents of a nearby village reported a second sighting in a new area, which staff confirmed with photos. It was clear that her condition had deteriorated further, with new injuries, signs of malnutrition, and apparent trauma to her eyes. With authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), two village residents and our partners with the Seldovia Village Tribe (having previously attended a wildlife rehabilitation workshop hosted at the Center) helped retrieve the young harbor seal and organized transport to Homer, where volunteers and ASLC staff took over, relaying her to the Center for urgent care.
The seal — later named Papita, meaning “little potato chip,” as part of that year’s potato-themed naming convention — joined nine other harbor seals under the Wildlife Response Department’s care. Staff would soon find out, however, that this year’s tenth and final patient would be different than the rest.
Rehabilitation Begins
Upon admission, the veterinary team noted injuries, which included lacerations around the eyes, a visible cataract in the right eye, and an ulcer in the left eye, along with a number of bodily wounds. She was estimated to be around six weeks old — much older than the other nine patients, who had all been orphans not long after birth. Papita, on the other hand, had already been weaned from mom, implying her poor condition was not related to a lack of maternal care. Staff suspected damage to her vision was instead the issue, as her behavior suggested a degree of blindness. The cause and extent of the damage, however, remained uncertain. Seeking answers, they brought in an animal ophthalmologist from Anchorage for a more thorough examination.
During the exam, the specialist detected abnormal eye movement (nystagmus) — typically seen in animals that are either born blind or lose vision at an early stage of life. Based on this finding, the ophthalmologist concluded that the young seal’s blindness was congenital (present from birth) and that she was unlikely to regain her vision, even if her wounds healed. She was confirmed to have a complete cataract resulting in blindness in her right eye, and limited vision, if any, in her left eye.
These findings also shed new light on the young seal’s time in the wild. While it was first suspected that her wounds were the cause of blindness, it now seemed the opposite — that the injuries she sustained were likely resultant. While seals can navigate their environment using tactile feedback from their whiskers (or vibrissae), Papita’s lack of vision would render her much more vulnerable to injury. Despite these limitations, staff recognized based on the time between early sightings that Papita had survived alone for at least five days in the wild, and possibly much longer. This impressive feat gave them confidence that she would adapt quickly to her new home.
With confirmation that her vision loss was permanent, NOAA deemed Papita non-releasable, marking her transition from a wildlife response case to a resident animal under the Mammal Team’s care.
Building Trust and Patience: Papita’s Early Training
As with all animals, Papita’s training began with a focus on care essentials. To address her eye condition, an individualized training routine was formulated, which included regular mock examinations (so that changes to her sight could be tracked over time) and the application of eyedrops using sterile saline solution (emulating the application of medication that may be necessary in the event of future complications). These trainings have become an essential and regular part of her repertoire, and visitors may even see Papita and her trainers practicing eyedrop sessions on habitat!
While staff note that Papita has been remarkably quick and eager to learn, her eyesight imposed certain challenges during training. One such challenge arose during feeding, as Papita would become impatient and “grabby” as staff handed out fish, which was remedied through a “chin station” behavior. By prompting Papita to rest her head on a trainer’s hand or custom PVC device before feeding, she could be made confident of the trainer’s proximity, and be reassured that feeding would continue.
Because visual cues could not be relied upon (though it seems that Papita has limited ability to detect movement and shadows in her peripherals), trainers have had to rely on auditory cues where possible. Early in training, a small rattle (Tupperware full of washers) was used to help her pinpoint the location of trainers. While this method was retired as Papita became more comfortable with her routines, staff continue with smaller efforts — ensuring all cues are spoken loudly, giving a verbal “touch” before any physical contact, and utilizing additional audio cues (such as the tapping of a food bucket to direct attention) where necessary.
Thanks to the staff’s attentiveness and Papita’s perseverance, several foundational husbandry skills have already been mastered. These include a basic “target” touch, a “lie down” behavior to check her dorsal side, and most recently a “front flipper presentation.” Trainers plan to tackle more complicated behaviors in the coming months, including a “roll” and “mouth open” (for teeth inspection) and “gate training” behaviors, which will allow staff to move Papita in between pool areas and into a kennel for transportation if necessary.
Personality and Habitat Introduction
As Papita has grown more comfortable with her environment and routines, staff have come to understand and admire her spunky personality. “She’s super courageous, brave, and eager to participate,” says Senior Mammal Trainer Shelby Burman, who cites her tendency to jump into training sessions and enthusiastically interact with new and unfamiliar enrichment items — a contrast to some other resident seals who are more hesitant and easily “spooked.” “She very much does not let her handicap affect her.”
This was demonstrated again when Papita — who previously resided in an off-area pool — was recently moved to the seal habitat alongside residents Tuq, a male harbor seal, and Spencer, a male ringed seal. Staff were surprised to observe minimal to no collisions during Papita’s initial exploration, as she quickly mapped out the boundaries of her new surroundings using her vibrissae. Her introduction to the other residents also went smoothly, with initial curiosity giving way to playful interactions—most notably with Tuq, another former wildlife rehabilitation patient deemed non-releasable due to a neurological condition. The two are often seen closely following one another, with Papita tracking Tuq’s movements by shadow or wake. In a humorous twist, while Tuq initially chased Papita around the habitat, their roles have reversed, and Papita now takes the lead during play.
Looking Forward
Papita’s progress stands as a testament to her tenacity and the dedication of her care team, solidifying her reputation as one of the Center’s spunkiest seals. Despite the challenges of her blindness, she has adapted remarkably to her new life — responding quickly to training, building trust with her trainers, and socializing with other resident seals. Her journey also highlights the expertise and commitment of our veterinary team, wildlife rehabilitators, and animal care staff, showing how much can be achieved through thoughtful and compassionate care. Papita’s story is far from over, and we look forward to seeing her continue to learn, grow, and inspire.
By Peter Sculli, ASLC Media
