SeaWorld’s Rescue Team Returns Three Marine Mammals to the Wild
For a Second Chance at Life
SeaWorld gave a second chance at life to three marine mammals. The park’s Rescue Team returned two rescued and rehabilitated California sea lion pups to Boomer’s Beach in La Jolla. Both of the sea lions were rescued because they were extremely dehydrated, malnourished and unable to survive on their own. At SeaWorld’s Animal Health and Rescue Center, they received expert care and doubled their weight. One of the sea lions also had a cataract, which was surgically removed by one of SeaWorld’s partner veterinarians. No 6-foot distancing here…..Sea lions are very social animals.
The Rescue Team also returned a harbor seal yesterday. Rescued as an orphaned neonate, this animal was in SeaWorld’s care for eight weeks. The park’s animal care experts became surrogate moms, providing a specialized marine-mammal milk formula, rich with 13 percent milk fat. Once weaned, harbor seals become independent very quickly and are able to survive on their own. Unlike sea lions, they are great at social distancing, as you can see here at South Casa Beach in La Jolla.
Typically SeaWorld returns rehabilitated animals by boat, several miles off the shore. Because the beaches are closed to the public due to COVID-19, this return took place directly on the beach.
So far this year, SeaWorld has rescued 50 marine mammals and 129 birds.
Sea lion greeting
California sea lions greet each other by touching noses together at Boomer’s Beach in La Jolla. SeaWorld returned two sea lions to the wild Wednesday, April 15, 2020 after a successful rehabilitation at the park’s Animal Health and Rescue Center.
Photo credit: Jody Westberg/SeaWorld San Diego
Eric Otjen from SeaWorld Rescue Team
Eric Otjen, who oversees SeaWorld San Diego’s Rescue Team, looks on as a harbor seal rescued and rehabilitated by SeaWorld gets its bearings after being returned to the wild for a second chance at life at South Casa Beach in La Jolla April 15, 2020.
Photo credit: Jody Westberg/SeaWorld San Diego
