By Michael Remski, Marine Mammal Program Manager

 

The 2019 Sea Lion pup season is off and running here at CA Wildlife Center.

Armed with a seasonal employee, a host of fresh volunteers, and a newly constructed fish preparation kitchen, we are prepared for a very successful season.

A warm welcome goes out to Mackenzie Glass, our seasonal employee, who comes to us with lots of pinniped (seal and sea lion) expertise and experience from Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles. A special thanks also goes out to all the volunteers, new and returning, who have chosen to spend their time helping to make our marine mammal program a success.

This year to date, we have had ten sea lion patients in house, as compared to 2018 which only brought us three sea lions in January, and another two by the end of February. The higher numbers are typical, and actually represents a more “normal” year than 2018.

Although the numbers are typical, the strandings have been anything but. Of particular interest are the two live cetacean (whale and dolphin) strandings that 2019 has brought us. The Pygmy Sperm Whale and Right Whale Dolphin strandings were two species which have never stranded alive in Malibu before this year. Is this a sign of things to come? Or just a bizarre opening to our 2019 season? While we are hoping for the latter, we are preparing for the unusual, which is actually becoming more and more usual. Specialized equipment and protocols that have always been in place but rarely used, have now become key to properly dealing with these strandings, and best caring for these animals. Plans are currently in the works for purchasing upgraded cetacean transport equipment.

Back at the center, our new marine mammal kitchen is up and running. Fish preparation is quick and efficient, leaving our energy and focus for what we do best, caring for our patients. So far, every single sea lion patient has responded well to treatment and is on their way to a full recovery.