Baby Seal Released Back to the Ocean

By Paul Ciampanelli May 10th 2011

Here's one to make you smile.

There's a couple of ways to read this baby Northern fur seal's hesitation at being released back to its natural habitat by the Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre on Salt Spring Island, B.C., who rehabbed the critter from starvation.

(1) Bittersweet Ending: The seal loves the human. It doesn't want to leave. "Go on," says the human. "You're free now." The seal turns back, looks at the human, confused about why it's being sent away. "Go! Get out of here!" the human yells, trying to make the seal think he's angry and doesn't want it anymore, so it will leave for its own safety. Finally the seal runs home. The human smiles as tears roll down his cheeks. You know what we mean. You've seen this scene play out in countless movies. It's how "Harry and the Hendersons" ends.

(2) Funny, Happy Ending: The seal can't believe it's good fortune, and is skeptical that it really gets to go home. "Are you--are you serious? I can go? This isn't a trick? OK, I'm going now. I'm stepping out of the cage. I'm moving towards the water... Seriously, are you guys pranking me? You'd better not be. You're really not? Awesome! Wheeeeeeee!"

Whatever context you can invent for this video, it's impossible to make it anything less than heartwarming.