Rescued Seal Pup Succumbs to Infection

A seal pup  in critical condition on a Montauk beach has died of an infection, which comes as a blow to biologists who saved the pup and those online who have been keeping track of his progress.

The seal pup, found with its umbilical attached and estimated to be no more than a few days old, was given a name - Ozzy and picked up a Facebook account that gathered over 400 friends, all in the span of a few weeks.

On Tuesday, the , which originally saved Ozzy, announced the the seal pup had succumbed to a bacterial respiratory infection.

"We had been working around the clock, giving him fluids, antibiotics through an I.V.," said Robert DiGiovanni, executive director and senior biologist with the foundation. "He had fractured ribs and an infection when we found him. In the end we were unable to get ahead of the infection."

DiGiovanni added that in its natural setting, mortality rates for gray seal pups are normally quite high: sometimes as high as 50 percent, depending on the experience of the mother, how populated the area is where it nurses, among other factors. In addition to this natural challenge, a major challenge - normally the case with babies - was trying to replace the natural antibodies and care of Ozzy's mom.

"The most intensive care they can get is from the mom," DiGiovanni said. He added that Ozzy was the youngest gray seal pup his organization - which opened its doors in 1996 - had picked up, though he recalled picking up a harbor seal with its umbilical cord attached in 2005.

When Ozzy was found on Montauk Point State Park, a large number of spectators had surrounded the pup, and for the seal's health and safety, biologists transported him back to foundation headquarters.

DiGiovanni said that following Ozzie's passing, an autopsy will be performed to determine if there was anything wrong with him that biologists missed. Following that, he will be buried.

Amy Tangel contributed to this article.