Featured Image Credit: Marine Mammal Center
By Laura O’Brien
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began an investigation hoping to find answers after sea lions experienced an unusual amount of issues off the coast of California in 2013. The investigation unearthed dehydrated and often underweight sea lion pups, and the problem has gotten even worse since 2013. The California Wildlife Center (CWC), in a rapid response to the sea lion troubles in 2013, quickly opened its marine mammal enclosure that year.
The temporary enclosure was an important step in addressing the growing concerns with sea lion pups, but it was not equipped to address the problem alone. In fact, Jennifer Brent, Executive Director of the CWC, stated that the center was built for just one season. Fortunately, Leonardo DiCaprio’s foundation donated funds to the CWC which made it possible for the center to renovate the temporary structure and turn it into a permanent enclosure.
The new structure was opened on January 1st of this year, and the facility released its first rehabilitated patient on March 1st. The lucky patient was a sea lion pup which arrived at the center on opening day. The pup was malnourished and had an eye injury when it arrived at the center, but it had fully recovered by the time it was released. There are currently three more sea lions that are recovering at the center which should be ready for release in April, according to the center’s marine mammal program manager, Michael Remski.
The center’s busy season will be from January until July, and the center may help 25 sea lions or 15 elephant seals at a time. The portion of the season when stranded elephant seals become prominent is in March. If the past 4 years are any indication, the center has a busy season ahead of it. But, thanks to generous contributions, it now has the capacity to do more good than ever before.
Learn more from our source.