A juvenile long-nosed fur seal has been successfully returned to the open ocean after being found on an island in Tonga and taken into the care of local community members.

The rescue involved the Government, Tonga Animal Welfare Society (TAWS), Whale Discoveries in Tonga and members of the local community, with specialist advice provided remotely by Australian marine mammal organisation ORRCA.

The Sheen family from Whale Discoveries — Tris, Dave and Dior — became involved after seeing footage of the seal online.

They travelled to the island and worked with local authorities and community members to assess the animal and arrange its transfer.

ORRCA provided guidance on the seal’s health, behaviour and welfare indicators. The organisation said the juvenile was alert, responsive and displaying behaviours consistent with an animal considered suitable for release.

Dave and Dior Sheen subsequently returned the seal to the sea, where it swam away freely.

Dior Sheen said the group knew it needed to help after learning that the seal had been found by locals and was being kept in a village.

“It was a collaborative effort involving many people and organisations to make sure the seal was in good condition and could be safely returned to the ocean,” she said.

Long-nosed fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri), also known as New Zealand fur seals, are primarily associated with New Zealand and waters around Australia, although individuals can travel thousands of kilometres.

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation has documented fur seals travelling as far as tropical Pacific locations.

The species is recognised as the long-nosed fur seal by the Society for Marine Mammalogy.

ORRCA said the successful release was the most important outcome, with the seal now back in the ocean to continue its journey.