Infant Harbor Seal in "Extremely Critical" Condition After Being Abandoned on NY Beach

A days-old infant harbor seal was found stranded on a New York state beach Saturday and has been taken to a marine mammal center where it is receiving care.

Found struggling Saturday amid the surf near Sands Beach Club on Long Island's Atlantic Beach, the female pup was only three days old and still had its umbilical cord attached.

It is unknown whether the pup was abandoned or if the mother was not coming back for the pup because of the large crowd of onlookers the beached seal attracted, said Kim Durham of Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Prevention, who spoke with Long Island News 12.

Harbor seal pups are nursed for an average of 24 days, according to an National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration factsheet, which also listed harassment by humans as one of the chief threats to harbor seals. Harbor seals are protected under federal law, making it unlawful to approach, handle or feed them, according to the Associated Press.

Named Penny, the 25-pound, 2.5-foot-long seal is being cared for by the Riverhead Foundation where she is currently being fed fluids by tube and is listed in "extremely critical" condition.

"She is currently being tub-fed a special milk replacement formula five times per day, and our team has to keep her healing umbilical cord clean," the marine center wrote on its Facebook page. "She is tolerating the treatments well, but her condition is still guarded."

The center says it costs $300 a day to care for the seal and is seeking benefactors to help offset costs, the marine center said on its Facebook page. Including Penny, the Riverhead Foundation is currently caring for 13 seals and 15 sea turtles.