A sea lion named “Timmi,” as well as another named “Hope,” returned to the ocean on Thursday, Dec. 7, with officials saying the former was the 10,000th recovered patient to be released by the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro.
It was a milestone for the center, which opened in 1992 as part of an agreement following the closure of Marineland in Rancho Palos Verdes, where a temporary marine mammal care hospital had operated.
Among those attending the Cabrillo Beach release was Los Angels Councilmember Tim McOsker, who nicknamed the guest of honor.
“It was incredible to see Timmi rush back into the ocean today,” McOsker said in released remarks, “a stark contrast to the first time I saw her being treated at the center.”
Timmi was rescued during the domoic acid outbreak this past summer, which affected thousands of sea lions. Timmi was found severely emaciated and barely breathing on Broad Beach in Malibu, rescue officials said. She weighed half of what a healthy female sea lion should weigh, according to information provided by the center.
Since it opened, the Marine Mamma Care Center has rescued more marine mammals per mile of coastline than any other organization in the network cover by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, according to center officials.
“I’m pleased to be part of the release today,” said Justin Viezbicke, NOAA’s California Stranding Network coordinator. “The milestone is important as the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network works to not only rehabilitate marine mammals but, more importantly, monitor our coastal ecosystems to help better protect them for both marine mammals and people in the future.”
This summer’s large toxic algae bloom caused many sea lions in Southern California to become ill and beach themselves, During that three-month span, the Marine Mammal Care Center rescued more than 130 sea lions, well over the center’s capacity. Assistance from donors, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and Los Angeles city and county officials helped the center set up triage centers along the L.A. County coastline. The center also increased its capacity to a location adjacent to the San Pedro facility, with help from LAUSD, which owns the property.
Marine Mammal Care Center CEO John Warner, citing an urgent need for the work in light of climate change, expressed gratitude to the staff and volunteers to ensure that “our animals get a second chance at life.”
