That seal found eating sand in South Jersey? He’s back in the water

BRIGANTINE - A stranded harp seal found eating sand on an Ocean County beach earlier this year has been released back into the wild.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center of Brigantine said earlier this week the adult harp seal had put on about 70 pounds after being rescued from the beach in Lavallette in February.

“Now weighing a healthy 220lbs and fully recovered, he made his way back home on a beautiful afternoon," the center said in a Facebook post.

"Look carefully at the intricate black markings on his back, our staff thinks they are reminiscent of yesterday's solar eclipse,” the post said.

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The seal, now tagged as #24-023, was rescued on Feb. 25 after animal observers reported it had been eating sand for a whole day.

“Once admitted into the hospital, staff began supportive care via tube feeding to rehydrate the seal, and started treatment to flush the sand out of his system with fluids and mineral oil," the Marine Mammal Stranding Center wrote on Facebook at the time.

Adult harp seals are rare along New Jersey’s shoreline.

As of April 8, the stranding center has rescued 85 animals this year, according to its website.

Fifteen seals are currently in rehabilitation, including a grey seal pup that was rescued from Island Beach State Park on April 5.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Harp seal released after recovery at Marine Mammal Stranding Center