Blind harbor seal learns basic skills at Alaskan aquarium

SEWARD, Alaska -- A blind harbor seal is learning basic behaviors such as being fed by hand at an Alaska aquarium.

Officials at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward say the pup, named Bryce, was rescued in late December in Homer, Alaska.

The veterinary staff at the center believes he suffered a head trauma, which caused his blindness.

Officials say in a release that Bryce is learning basic husbandry behaviors, such as hand-feeding and learning how to target based on audible cues when staff members shake a rattle in place of a target buoy.

Center staff members say he might have improving sight, but only in one eye.

Federal officials say Bryce can't be released back into the wild, so he will stay at the center until a permanent home can be found.