Greatest reward – 100% Northern Elephant Seals Pups Released
By Heather Henderson, Marine Mammal Program Manager
The 2026 northern elephant seal pup stranding season has wrapped up. Due to their life history, we expect to see northern elephant seal pups, or weanlings, in need of rehabilitative care during the spring and early summer months in Malibu. This year, the population experienced its first cases of avian influenza. Northern Elephant Seals continue to recover from the near extinction they faced in the early 1900s. However, that population decline left the species with a genetic bottleneck, meaning there is less genetic diversity among individuals. A genetic bottleneck occurs when, so few individuals survive to reproduce that the population loses much of its genetic variation. Until new genetic variation develops through natural mutations, a disease that is harmful to some individuals could affect a substantial portion of the population. This makes viral outbreaks, such as avian influenza, especially concerning.
Navigating through a viral outbreak raises added safety concerns for the responders and the seals. To ensure a safe environment for our marine mammal team, and to minimize the potential of disease transmission between patients, additional quarantine and monitoring practices were put into play. The journey was not easy, however I am proud to share that the hard work paid off.
Patient rescue photo
Patient in care
Patient release
Each pup presented with his/her own unique challenges, yet the most rewarding case was #26-077 (aka Green Silver – for the non-toxic grease marker applied to their fur for identification). This 4.5-month-old pup did not arrive in the poor nutritional condition that most present with. Instead, he arrived carrying a deadly amount of internal parasites, particularly lungworm, causing severe respiratory distress and temporary front limb paralysis. He remained in quarantine for a staggering 22 days with a guarded prognosis. Our team created a specialized treatment plan consisting of: anti-inflammatories, antiparasitics, antibiotics, steroids, pain management medicine, nutritional supplements, and physical therapy. Clear respirations were achieved after 28 days in care and full usage of both front flippers observed on day 40. During his 80 days in care, Green Silver gained 42kg (92.6 lbs) and displayed a spunky and memorable attitude. On release, he set a speed record, galumphing steadily out of the kennel into the ocean immediately after the door opened.
One hundred percent of the northern elephant seal pups rescued in Malibu during the 2026 stranding season were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the Pacific Ocean. Every person played an essential role in that success, from reporting stranded pups on the beach to devoting countless hours to providing specialized care and providing the financial support that made it all possible. Thank you for caring and for continuing to support our mission. We are truly better together!