Campbell The Sea Lion Released After Months Of Rehabilitation

Featured Image Credit: The Columbia Valley Pioneer
By: Laura O’Brien

After months of rehabilitation, Campbell the sea lion was released this December. Campbell was found and rescued near Campbell River in October. At that point, the sea lion was malnourished and dehydrated. According to one of Campbell’s rescuers, Andrew Celmainis of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, “we shouldn’t normally be able to walk up and approach a healthy California sea lion”. Campbell was emaciated, so the team was able to corral him into a carrier without any problems. The team transported the ailing sea lion to Vancouver Aquarium where he was treated for pneumonia and a fractured flipper.



Thanks to the hard work of the rescue center, Campbell recovered and was ready to be released this December. The healthy sea lion was transported to a beach near Victoria, where he was released back into the ocean. Campbell appeared to be pretty excited to be back in his element. In fact, he trotted right to the water as soon as his crate was opened. The manager of the rescue center, Lindsay Akhurst, said that “we have been working around the clock for two months getting him better”. The release was rewarding for many of the people who helped Campbell, including Akhurst who said, “for him to seem so comfortable coming out and into the water and just take off and now we can’t see him anymore, it’s just really great to see”.

Campbell’s heartwarming return to the ocean comes after an incredibly busy year for the rescue center. Over 200 animals were treated or rehabilitated by the center in 2017. Campbell and many creatures that were extremely fortunate to receive care from the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. We hope they keep up the good work!

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