
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 5, 1991                   TAG: 9103051294
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE                                LENGTH: Short

SEAL FOUND IN VA. BEACH PUT TO DEATH

One of two ailing harbor seals found in the sand at Virginia Beach two months ago has been put to death by a veterinarian who said the animal had all but lost its battle with pneumonia.

"It's disappointing to a lot of people, but we can only do the best we can," said Brent Whitaker, staff veterinarian at the National Aquarium.

The other harbor seal is recovering at the Baltimore facility and may be released into New England waters this spring, Whitaker said.

The seal pup that was euthanized never gained enough strength to feed itself and developed golf ball-sized sores on its flippers last weekend, officials said.

Whitaker said the animal had bacteria in its blood and fluid in its lungs from pneumonia that "he could never get rid of."

The recovering seal has overcome mild pneumonia, dehydration and an infection and is being treated for lung worms, Whitaker said.

by CNB