Long Island Aquarium Trainers Head to California to Save Stranded Sea Lions

RIVERHEAD, NY - In a mission of mercy, two marine mammal trainers from the Long Island Aquarium are headed to California to the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute — to help stranded California sea lions.

For the past three years, the Aquarium said in a release, biologists have noticed an increase in sea lion pup strandings resulting in malnourished, exhausted and dehydrated sea lion pups washed up on California beaches.

Experts say the problem is exacerbated because food sources are moving to cooler waters further off the coast and nursing mothers are unable to feed on good quality fish and produce adequate milk — resulting in premature weaning.

The pups are too young to sufficiently fend for themselves and wind up on shore and in need of serious help, experts say.

CIMWI needs additional resources as well, and members of the Long Island Aquarium team are happy to lend a hand.

Nicole Izzo MacDonald left Monday. “I’m so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to give back to an animal species that has taught me so much. Sea lions are the animal that led me to my career, my passion, and the peril that they are facing has motivated me to further educate my friends, family, and the public about them and the issues they face," she said.

It wasn't the first time MacDonald headed off on a rescue mission. She was on a team that traveled to Santa Barbara two years to save Nila, a pup who had been rescued and deemed unreleasable.

Today, Nila is a thriving two year old and part of the Long Island Aquarium’s sea lion family, along with their two 14 year old pinnipeds, Java and Bunker.

“Nila, our rescued sea lion from CIMWI, has been the perfect animal ambassador in New York to represent her wild counterparts. Being able to aid CIMWI, Nila’s own rescue facility, in this crisis is so amazing," she said.

CIMWI, she added, has saved more than 100 sea lions this year alone. "Their dedication is inspiring. CIMWI is truly a port in the storm for these animals," she said.

Heading west next is Jenna Mercurio, who leaves on April 18. I

“It’s amazing to be able to work with Nila, a rescued animal from this horrible crisis, and even more incredible that I can now directly help the cause and the facility that has done such amazing work,” she said.

Experts also say that El Nino has led to this year's crisis. Sea lion mothers have to travel farther to find sardines and anchovies and their pups are going several days without feeding; the pups become dehydrated and their conditions deteriorate rapidly.

The situation is not expected to improve soon. Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had said that they expect "repeated years with malnourished and starving sea lion pups.”