Featured Image Credit: Karen Tapia, Contributing Photographer
By: Sarah Sharkey
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center rescued a 4-month-old sea lion pup from Salt Creek Beach. The pup, lovingly named Cabo, was only 25 pounds. That is very much on the skinny side, he should have been at least 15 pounds heavier.
After reaching the center, he was immediately placed on a tube fed solution that consisted of Pedialyte, nutrical, fish, vitamins and Karo syrup. According to the center, he will graduate to an all fish diet as he improves.
Unfortunately, this pup was found on September 30th. The usually season in which pups need to be rescued is not until December or January. Officials are unsure of Cabo’s early stranding will mean for the upcoming rescue season.
Another pup was recused on October 5th, Heartbreaker the 4-month-old Northern fur seal was found extremely weak on Capistrano Beach. This rescued animal was another oddity because Northern fur seals are usually found much further north. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center has only ever rescued a handful of these Northern fur seals in their history of helping out injured mammals.
The combination of these two unusual recuses is not a cause for panic, yet. It may be indicative of what is to come this upcoming recuse season though, so the staff at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst just in case.
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