Seal Pup Rescued and Recovering

A 16-pound harbor seal pup was found Thursday at Children's Pool after it was abandoned by its mother on the beach. The pup, who is estimated to be less than a week old, was taken to SeaWorld San Diego for care.

Kelly Terry, a spokeswoman for SeaWorld, said Friday afternoon that the male pup is being treated for an infection and bottle fed.

"He is considered in critical condition, but we are cautiously optimistic that he will recover," Terry said.

SeaWorld reports that the pup will be bottle fed for a while and then weaned from formula and started on a diet of fish.

"He will need to gain some weight, be clear of the infection and be able to forage for food on his own before we return him to the ocean," said Terry in an e-mail correspondence with Patch. She estimated the pup's stay at SeaWorld to be at least a month.

"He's fighting a pretty serious infection, but the good news is that he's energetic and has a suckling response to the bottle," said Hendrik Nollens, a SeaWorld veterinarian in a statement. "We'll continue to monitor him closely, keep him on antibiotics and see how he does. As will all animals in our rescue program, our goal is to get him well enough to return to the wild and have a second chance at life."