Say hello to Nessie! Pittsburgh Zoo’s new young elephant seal

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium has a new member of its family -- a rescued young northern elephant seal named Nessie!

Zoo officials said Nessie was rescued, rehabbed and then released five separate times before Sea World San Diego Rescue’s animal care team determined she could not survive on her own.

Since the Pittsburgh Zoo is North America’s only facility that cares for rescued northern elephant seals, they were called to see if they would adopt Nessie.

You can customize your WPXI News App to receive alerts for Allegheny County news. CLICK HERE to find out how.

“When I got the call from Sea World San Diego about Nessie, I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” says Paul Moylett, Curator of Aquatic Life at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. “We are definitely up to the challenge of caring for Nessie and we are looking forward to learning even more about northern elephant seals.”

WPXI - Nessie Elephant Seal Pittsburgh Zoo The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium has added an new member to their family -- a young elephant seal named Nessie. (Paul A Selvaggio/Pittsburgh Zoo)

The zoo said Nessie does not have any physical impairments like their other northern elephant seals, Coolio and Ellie Mae. Coolio died in December of last year.

“We believe that Nessie never developed the ability to forage for food,” said Moylett. “Each time she was found, she was severely underweight and malnourished and had beached herself. Young northern elephant seals are left on their own at such a young age, that many don’t develop their natural instincts, such as foraging for food or finding shelter.”

Nessie spent some time in quarantine when she first arrived at the zoo, like all new animals do, but at the end of 2019, she moved into her home at Water’s Edge.

“She is doing very well,” says Moylett. “She is curious about Ellie Mae, as well as our sea lions Nav and Piper. It is a slow process and we are taking our cues from Nessie, letting her set the schedule for when she is comfortable enough to share space first with Ellie Mae and then sea lions Nav and Piper.”