This seal was ready for beach season.
A seal frolicked on a Coney Island beach Wednesday before being spotted by an eagle-eyed city worker and released back into the water.
Brightly colored sea creatures were seen wrestling in Coney Island Creek Park after Elijah Hutchinson, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, walked to attend a nearby community event in Brooklyn. Sometimes I noticed a seal near the shore that seemed to be in distress.
“It seemed to blend into the sand,” Hutchinson told the Post.
Hutchinson turned to the state Department of Environmental Protection for help.
DEC officers spotted the mammal around a sand dune near Coney Island Creek Park and sent photos and video to the nonprofit New York Marine Rescue Center, which confirmed it was a harp seal and that it was in good condition. State officials announced that the decision was made. .
The DEC watched the seal for hours to make sure no other animals or people got near it until the Seagate Police Department reported the seal was safely in the water, officials said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams shared footage of the adorable flippers on Thursday afternoon, praising Hutchinson and state officials.
“I approve of this!” Mr. Hitzzoner said. Social media posts.
“Yesterday, @NYCClimate’s Elijah Hutchinson spotted this man in Coney Island and called in experts from @NYSDEC. After a quick test, they determined the seal was healthy and placed it in the water. I returned it to .”
DEC said the seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and urged the public to stay at least 40 feet away from the underwater animals.
