CA Sea Lions Celebrate Return To The Wild With A Smooch

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — Two rehabilitated California sea lion pups were released back into the ocean Tuesday at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Marine Mammal Care Center rehabilitation team released the pups at Terranea’s Beach Cove in a special send-off in time for World Oceans Day on June 8.

The first was a female California sea lion pup that was separated from its mother and found emaciated by the California Wildlife Center on a resident's porch on April 4. She came in weighing about 22 pounds and was released at almost 61 pounds.

The second was a male California sea lion pup, separated from the mother and found emaciated by Marine Animal Rescue at Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol Dock. He came in weighing under 37 pounds and was released at more than 75 pounds.

The release location was also significant for the nonprofit.

“We are delighted to share this positive recovery as part of our ongoing mission to care for and protect Los Angeles marine life,” MMCC President Amber Becerra said in a news release.

“Terranea is a special place for us; it is located on the former site of Marineland of the Pacific, and the original Marine Mammal Care Center was located there to rehabilitate marine life that needed treatment in the Los Angeles area," Becerra said. "We have partnered with Terranea for more than 10 years as part of their commitment to sustainability and protecting our precious coastal habitat.”

The Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur has treated and helped rehabilitate more than 8,000 marine mammal patients to date.

The MMCC facility serves all Los Angeles County beaches, providing care to injured or sick sea lions or sea lions stranded on the 70 miles of beach. Since 1992, the nonprofit's goal is to rehabilitate and release them back into their ocean habitat.

“We are honored to share this longstanding partnership with MMCC for marine mammal releases and support of the organization since opening in 2009,” Terranea Resort President Terri A. Haack said in a news release.

“We are committed to protecting and stewarding this unparalleled coastal setting and supporting the education of our visitors and guests to enhance awareness and encourage additional support for our partners in the community.”

Terranea is an oceanfront resort on 102 acres along the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It opened in 2009 and offers hotel accommodations to seaside homes for purchase.

For more information about the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles and to help support wildlife conservation, visit www.mmccla.org.

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